Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $41,860 a year ($20.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,160 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 9% 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 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $43,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| 25th percentile | $37,890 | $18.21 |
| Median | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| 75th percentile | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Average (mean) | $43,220 | $20.78 |
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 | $3,488.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,744.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,610 |
| Weekly | $805 |
| Hourly | $20.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,860 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 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $43,550 | 920 |
| 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,700 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Bartender | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,290 | $35.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $41,860 a year, or $20.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $52,160 a year. The top 25% earn $46,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,470 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $37,890 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 1,110 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.