Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn a median of $44,970 a year ($21.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,360 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $46,390. There are 2.8 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,660 | $18.11 |
| 25th percentile | $39,300 | $18.90 |
| Median | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| 75th percentile | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| Average (mean) | $45,670 | $21.96 |
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 | $3,747.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,873.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,729.62 |
| Weekly | $864.81 |
| Hourly | $21.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,970 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,880 | 2,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,140 | 4,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,210 | 430 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,310 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,260 | 420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 | 270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,100 | 3,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,850 | 250 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,820 | 350 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,480 | 330 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,400 | 9,860 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,020 | 1,780 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,570 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,470 | 2,540 |
| Merced, CA | $44,410 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $44,250 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,950 | 400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,940 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,910 | 510 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,580 | 900 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,820 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $41,380 | 140 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,980 | 70 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,950 | $16.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Dishwasher | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Bartender | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,400 | $28.56 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $44,970 a year, or $21.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn at least $58,360 a year. The top 25% earn $47,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,660 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $39,300 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
About 340 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.