Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median of $43,550 a year ($20.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 920 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,070 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 5% lower than the New York statewide median of $45,880. There are 2.1 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $43,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 25th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Median | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| 75th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,070 | $25.03 |
| Average (mean) | $43,760 | $21.04 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,629.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,814.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,675 |
| Weekly | $837.50 |
| Hourly | $20.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $46,870 | 190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,870 | 15,270 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $45,740 | 650 |
| Kingston, NY | $44,650 | 190 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $41,860 | 1,110 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $41,660 | 360 |
| Binghamton, NY | $40,510 | 270 |
| Syracuse, NY | $40,450 | 670 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $40,190 | 150 |
| Rochester, NY | $38,670 | 1,620 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $37,830 | 100 |
| Elmira, NY | $36,990 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,520 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Bartender | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Dishwasher | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $84,430 | $40.59 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $43,550 a year, or $20.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn at least $52,070 a year. The top 25% earn $47,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,400 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $38,580 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
About 920 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.