Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Idaho Falls, ID
Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias in Idaho Falls, ID make a median of $31,170 a year, or about $14.99 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.41), which stretches that salary to about $33,016 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,305/month — about 61.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Idaho Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Idaho Falls’s Regional Price Parity (94.41). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About cooks, institution and cafeterias
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho Falls, ID
Entry-level cooks, institution and cafeterias (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $48K | +32% | 10,210 |
| Hawaii | $47K | +30% | 1,270 |
| Alaska | $47K | +29% | 1,540 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +27% | 7,510 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +26% | 3,630 |
| California | $46K | +25% | 27,320 |
| District of Columbia | $46K | +25% | 1,560 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | +25% | 940 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +24% | 2,020 |
| New York | $45K | +24% | 16,980 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +21% | 7,290 |
| Delaware | $43K | +19% | 2,520 |
| Minnesota | $42K | +16% | 7,650 |
| Oregon | $42K | +15% | 7,010 |
| Vermont | $41K | +13% | 1,350 |
| Maine | $40K | +9% | 2,120 |
| Arizona | $39K | +8% | 6,840 |
| North Dakota | $39K | +7% | 2,120 |
| Maryland | $39K | +7% | 3,730 |
| Nevada | $39K | +6% | 1,590 |
| Wisconsin | $38K | +4% | 9,680 |
| Utah | $38K | +4% | 5,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | +1% | 23,520 |
| Montana | $37K | +1% | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $36K | -0% | 22,850 |
| Virginia | $36K | -1% | 11,070 |
| Ohio | $36K | -1% | 23,180 |
| Michigan | $36K | -2% | 13,650 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -2% | 1,500 |
| Florida | $36K | -2% | 24,100 |
| Nebraska | $36K | -2% | 4,360 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -3% | 2,160 |
| Indiana | $35K | -4% | 11,690 |
| Georgia | $35K | -4% | 7,440 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -5% | 11,970 |
| Iowa | $35K | -5% | 9,460 |
| New Mexico | $34K | -6% | 3,650 |
| Idaho | $34K | -7% | 3,950 |
| Texas | $33K | -10% | 35,110 |
| Tennessee | $32K | -12% | 11,890 |
| South Carolina | $32K | -13% | 7,560 |
| Kansas | $31K | -15% | 7,470 |
| Missouri | $31K | -15% | 13,310 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -16% | 11,650 |
| Arkansas | $30K | -19% | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -21% | 4,540 |
| Oklahoma | $29K | -21% | 11,660 |
| Alabama | $27K | -27% | 8,970 |
| Louisiana | $26K | -28% | 6,280 |
| Mississippi | $26K | -29% | 6,470 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cooks, institution and cafeteria salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho Falls numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeterias make in Idaho Falls, ID?
The median is $31,170 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,030, and experienced cooks, institution and cafeterias can clear $39,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Idaho Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,195/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,305/month, which eats 59.5% 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 Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 94.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary is worth about $33,016 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.