Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Ponce
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,990 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Ponce earn between $22,170 and $28,700.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $29KMedian
- $29K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,540 | $2,378 | $13.72 |
| Median | $28,540 | $2,378 | $13.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,170 | $1,848 | $10.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,700 | $2,392 | $13.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Ponce vs. Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Ponce earn about the same as the Puerto Rico average ($28,030) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponce | $28,540 | $28,540 | $21,840 | $39,990 | 640 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,030 | $26,260 | $21,840 | $39,650 | 7,000 |
| 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.
Is Ponce a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Ponce ($26,940). A typical home costs $103,100, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Puerto Rico cities
Ponce ranks 1st of 6 Puerto Rico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in Puerto Rico
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 Ponce: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Ponce?
$13.72 an hour on average, and $13.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Ponce?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Ponce than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Ponce, PR (38660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.55, this job is 3.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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