Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias in Colorado make a median of $42,500 a year, or about $20.43 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Colorado?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level cooks, institution and cafeterias (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $48K | +13% | 820 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $45K | +6% | 4,410 |
| Greeley | $43K | +1% | 420 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $40K | -6% | 670 |
| Grand Junction | $39K | -8% | 260 |
| Colorado Springs | $39K | -8% | 1,090 |
| Pueblo | $39K | -9% | 380 |
Compare to other states
Track cooks, institution and cafeteria salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 71.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cooks, institution and cafeterias in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cooks, institution and cafeterias typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,177/month.
Is cooks, institution and cafeteria a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $43K here vs. $37K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for cooks, institution and cafeterias?
Colorado pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +13%.
How much do cooks, institution and cafeterias make in Colorado?
The median is $42,500 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,290, and experienced cooks, institution and cafeterias can clear $50,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,860/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 71.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, institution and cafeteria salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary is worth about $42,500 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, institution and cafeterias get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.