Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn a median of $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,070 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $46,390. There are 2.0 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 $49,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 25th percentile | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Median | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| 75th percentile | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Average (mean) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
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 | $3,938.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,969.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,817.69 |
| Weekly | $908.85 |
| Hourly | $22.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,260 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 |
| 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 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,970 | 340 |
| 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| Cooks, All Other | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $43,610 | $20.97 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,380 | $25.18 |
| Bartender | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Dishwasher | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,720 | $18.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,180 | $19.32 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $73,570 | $35.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $47,260 a year, or $22.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn at least $62,070 a year. The top 25% earn $51,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,140 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $43,680 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
About 420 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.