Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Auburn
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,010 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Auburn earn between $22,500 and $35,480.
- $18K10th
- $22K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,530 | $2,461 | $14.20 |
| Median | $29,680 | $2,473 | $14.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,500 | $1,875 | $10.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,480 | $2,957 | $17.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Auburn vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Auburn earn 6% more than the Alabama average ($27,870) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | $29,530 | $29,680 | $18,150 | $38,010 | 260 |
| Alabama | $27,870 | $27,120 | $20,040 | $37,960 | 8,780 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Auburn
On the average salary of $29,530, a single filer in Auburn takes home about $24,754 a year, or $2,063 a month and $952 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Auburn a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Auburn area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.9), so the average $29,530 buys what about $33,582 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Auburn ($39,070). A typical home costs $349,842, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Alabama cities
Auburn ranks 2nd of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Tuscaloosa pays the most ($31,620).
- Tuscaloosa$31,620
- Auburn$29,530
- Huntsville$29,130
- Birmingham$28,980
- Mobile$28,410
- Daphne$27,880
- Dothan$26,790
- Montgomery$26,490
- Florence$26,410
- Decatur$26,040
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Auburn: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Auburn?
$14.20 an hour on average, and $14.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Auburn?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Auburn?
About $24,754 a year ($2,063 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,530. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Auburn than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Auburn-Opelika, AL (12220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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