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Salary comparison

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers: Who Earns More?

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria out-earn Fast Food and Counter Workers by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria land at $37,450 and Fast Food and Counter Workers at $31,200. The education gap is real: cooks, institution and cafeteria programs typically require no formal educational credential, while fast food and counter worker programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is Washington ($49,670); for Fast Food and Counter Workers it's California ($42,280).

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Median salary
$37,450
$31,200
Hourly rate
$18.01/hr
$15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,480
$22,840
Senior level (90th %)
$49,670
$42,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
441,050
3,854,050
Job growth (10-year)
2%
6.1%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Washington
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria median pay.

State
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Washington
$49,670
$37,710
Massachusetts
$47,790
$35,850
Hawaii
$47,770
$35,250
California
$46,390
$42,280
Vermont
$46,370
$36,030
Connecticut
$46,120
$35,380
New York
$45,880
$35,250
District of Columbia
$45,450
$37,430
Oregon
$44,520
$35,050
New Jersey
$44,520
$34,150
Maine
$43,490
$34,710
Colorado
$42,500
$36,270
Maryland
$41,380
$33,660
Arizona
$39,660
$34,230
Illinois
$37,440
$33,910

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn more nationally. The median is $37,450 for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria versus $31,200 for Fast Food and Counter Workers, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Fast Food and Counter Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 6.1% projected growth, compared to 2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria typically requires no formal educational credential. Fast Food and Counter Workers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria at $49,670/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn $49,670 vs. $37,710 for Fast Food and Counter Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary breakdownView →Full Fast Food and Counter Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Fast Food and Counter Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a cooks, institution and cafeteriaGuide →How to become a fast food and counter workersGuide →