SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Riverside
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Riverside, CA is $44,470 per year, 18.7% above the national median of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Riverside, CA is $44,470 per year, 18.7% above the national median of $37,450. Half of workers earn between $38,340 and $50,510. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,540 and the ninetieth at $57,060.
Employment stands at 2,540, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $51,880. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 558th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,540 | −2.4% |
| 25th | $38,340 | +2.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,470 | +18.7% |
| 75th | $50,510 | +34.9% |
| 90th | $57,060 | +52.4% |
| Mean | $45,640 | +21.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $51,880 | 2,640 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $49,140 | 4,280 | |
| 3 | Santa Maria | $48,210 | 430 | |
| 4 | Napa | $48,060 | 130 | |
| 5 | Hanford | $47,310 | 80 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $47,260 | 420 | |
| 7 | Vallejo | $47,130 | 270 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $47,100 | 3,070 | |
| 9 | Santa Cruz | $46,850 | 250 | |
| 10 | Salinas | $46,820 | 350 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Riverside run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $44,470 buys what $40,172 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,172US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,470 a year, 18.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,540 to $57,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,540 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $51,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Riverside, CA?
The median annual wage is $44,470, or $21.38 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Riverside, CA is 18.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Riverside, CA earns more than $57,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,540 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $51,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,540 jobs in this occupation in Riverside, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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