Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Massachusetts
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Massachusetts (2026)
$22.98 per hour · take-home ≈ $38,190/year ($3,182/month) for a single filer
Massachusetts is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks (3rd of 51), with a median about 26% above the national average. Of the 7,430 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Massachusetts, the typical worker earns $47,790 a year — though pay ranges from $39,250 for newcomers to $58,090 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Massachusetts
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,250 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,080 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,790 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $51,650 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $58,090 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,430 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Massachusetts (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Massachusetts
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $47,790 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Massachusetts state income tax, a single filer keeps about $38,190 — an effective tax rate of 20.1%.
| Gross (median) | $47,790 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,555 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,656 |
| Massachusetts state income tax | −$2,390 |
| Take-home (annual) | $38,190 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,182 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Massachusetts paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Massachusetts?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Massachusetts is $47,790 per year ($22.98 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,080 and $51,650.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Massachusetts?
- On the median salary of $47,790, a single filer in Massachusetts takes home about $38,190 per year ($3,182 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.1%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Massachusetts?
- BLS counts 7,430 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Massachusetts in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Massachusetts
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Massachusetts state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Massachusetts.