Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,440 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Portland earn between $40,240 and $52,120.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $46KMedian
- $52K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,030 | $3,919 | $22.61 |
| Median | $45,800 | $3,817 | $22.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,240 | $3,353 | $19.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,120 | $4,343 | $25.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Portland earn 4% more than the Oregon average ($45,220) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $47,030 | $45,800 | $37,810 | $58,440 | 3,920 |
| Oregon | $45,220 | $44,520 | $36,690 | $57,790 | 7,150 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $47,030, a single filer in Portland takes home about $36,714 a year, or $3,060 a month and $1,412 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $39,969 | $3,331 |
| Working in OR | $36,714 | $3,060 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $47,030 buys what about $44,612 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 11.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Portland?
$22.61 an hour on average, and $22.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Portland?
About $36,714 a year ($3,060 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,030. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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