Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias in Hawaii make a median of $47,770 a year, or about $22.97 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $43,360 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 67.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Hawaii?
About cooks, institution and cafeterias
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Hawaii sits well above the national pay line for cooks, institution and cafeteria, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 71.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level cooks, institution and cafeterias (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $55K | +16% | 250 |
| Urban Honolulu | $47K | -2% | 1,080 |
Compare to other states
Track cooks, institution and cafeteria salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 71.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cooks, institution and cafeterias typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,295/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 98% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cooks, institution and cafeteria a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $48K here vs. $37K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for cooks, institution and cafeterias?
Hawaii pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cooks, institution and cafeterias make in Hawaii?
The median is $47,770 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,250, and experienced cooks, institution and cafeterias can clear $65,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,117/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 71.9% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary is worth about $43,360 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.