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Occupation · SOC 35-2012

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

There are 441,050 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $37,450 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Food ServiceTypical education: No formal educational credential
441,050
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$37,450
Median pay a year
Middle half: $32,440–$44,800
62,900
Annual openings
10-year change: +2.8%
1
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
0 in the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 391 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $46,870 · LCA filings 015,270$46,8700
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $38,290 · LCA filings 014,010$38,2900
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $45,400 · LCA filings 09,860$45,4000
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $38,870 · LCA filings 09,810$38,8700
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $37,370 · LCA filings 06,620$37,3700
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $36,480 · LCA filings 06,220$36,4800
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $44,880 · LCA filings 05,670$44,8800
St. Louis, MO–ILMedian pay $36,200 · LCA filings 05,410$36,2000
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $51,530 · LCA filings 05,380$51,5300
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $48,530 · LCA filings 05,310$48,5300

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Kahului–Wailuku, HIEmployment 250 · LCA filings 0$55,4002500
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 2,640 · LCA filings 0$51,8802,6400
Mount Vernon–Anacortes, WAEmployment 240 · LCA filings 0$51,6202400
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 5,380 · LCA filings 0$51,5305,3800
Barnstable Town, MAEmployment 170 · LCA filings 0$49,7201700

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 4,310114,310

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $43,202 · Level III $48,090 · Level IV $52,957$38,334$43,202$48,090$52,957
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $37,336 · Level III $40,768 · Level IV $44,200$33,904$37,336$40,768$44,200
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $42,141 · Level III $46,446 · Level IV $50,731$37,856$42,141$46,446$50,731
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $35,818 · Level III $39,936 · Level IV $44,054$31,699$35,818$39,936$44,054
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $33,946 · Level III $37,669 · Level IV $41,413$30,202$33,946$37,669$41,413
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $36,067 · Level III $38,750 · Level IV $41,434$33,384$36,067$38,750$41,434
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $41,163 · Level III $44,678 · Level IV $48,194$37,648$41,163$44,678$48,194
St. Louis, MO–ILLevel II $33,946 · Level III $36,982 · Level IV $39,998$30,930$33,946$36,982$39,998
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $49,504 · Level III $53,768 · Level IV $58,053$45,219$49,504$53,768$58,053
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $46,072 · Level III $49,691 · Level IV $53,331$42,432$46,072$49,691$53,331
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INLevel II $34,424 · Level III $37,586 · Level IV $40,768$31,242$34,424$37,586$40,768

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.05OPT · up to 12 months381OPT · up to 12 months

See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in every metro area

All 391 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Food Service

Fast Food and Counter WorkersWaiters and WaitressesCooks, RestaurantFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersFood Preparation WorkersBartendersHosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopDining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology