The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in New Jersey is $44,050 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $43,670.
Pay spans roughly $34,850 at the 10th percentile to $54,190 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $21.18 per hour. An estimated 7,290 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in New Jersey.
| Median (annual) | $44,050 |
| Mean (annual) | $43,670 |
| Median (hourly) | $21.18 |
| 10th percentile | $34,850 |
| 90th percentile | $54,190 |
| Employment | 7,290 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.