Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Idaho
$36,160avg. a year
$17.39 an hour · 3,650 employed
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Idaho earn an average of $36,160 a year. That is $2,650 (7%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810. The best-paying metro area is Lewiston, ID-WA at $38,430.
$35,600Median pay
$17.39Average hourly
+35%Avg. pay since 2020
#35Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Idaho metro areas
Average pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria by metro area. Swipe to see all 7.
1140 jobs
Lewiston, ID-WA
$38,430
$18.48 an hour
2320 jobs
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$37,990
$18.26 an hour
3280 jobs
Logan, UT-ID
$37,740
$18.15 an hour
41,370 jobs
Boise City, ID
$37,520
$18.04 an hour
5220 jobs
Twin Falls, ID
$34,960
$16.81 an hour
6330 jobs
Idaho Falls, ID
$34,580
$16.63 an hour
7190 jobs
Pocatello, ID
$33,430
$16.07 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Idaho, charted
Pay over time
Idaho, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Idaho cooks, institution and cafeteria work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Idaho highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $35k$35k–$39k$39k–$44k$44k+Idaho
Idaho vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Idaho | $36,160 | $17.39 |
| Washington | $51,290 | $24.66 |
| Oregon | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Nevada | $41,850 | $20.12 |
| Utah | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| Montana | $38,950 | $18.73 |
Related jobs in Idaho
- Cooks, Restaurant$36,970
- Food Preparation Workers$32,380
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,630
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,400
- Bartenders$32,670
Average pay, Idaho, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Idaho?
The average is $36,160 a year, and the median is $35,600. That is $2,650 (7%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810.
What is the hourly wage in Idaho?
$17.39 an hour on average; the median is $17.11.
Where in Idaho do they earn the most?
Lewiston, ID-WA ($38,430), followed by Coeur d'Alene, ID ($37,990). The lowest average among 7 metro areas with data is Pocatello, ID ($33,430).
How does Idaho rank?
Idaho ranks #35 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national cooks, institution and cafeteria page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.