Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $42,960 a year ($20.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,650 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 4% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $44,520. There are 1.9 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $43,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 25th percentile | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Median | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| 75th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,650 | $25.79 |
| Average (mean) | $43,300 | $20.82 |
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 | $3,580 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,790 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,652.31 |
| Weekly | $826.15 |
| Hourly | $20.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,960 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,870 | 15,270 |
| Vineland, NJ | $45,510 | 110 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,240 | 320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,870 | 9,810 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,570 | 1,750 |
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 Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Bartender | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 | $17.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $42,960 a year, or $20.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $53,650 a year. The top 25% earn $48,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,930 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $37,370 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 460 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.