Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,020 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Salem earn between $38,580 and $51,350.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $51K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,010 | $3,834 | $22.12 |
| Median | $44,690 | $3,724 | $21.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,350 | $4,279 | $24.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $46,010, a single filer in Salem takes home about $35,973 a year, or $2,998 a month and $1,384 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross 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.
Is Salem a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $46,010 buys what about $44,390 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 3rd of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($47,030).
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Salem: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Salem?
$22.12 an hour on average, and $21.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Salem?
About $35,973 a year ($2,998 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,010. 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 Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($39,648).
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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.