Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Montana
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Montana (2026)
$17.86 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,041/year ($2,587/month) for a single filer
Montana ranks 26th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 2% below the national average. Of the 2,290 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Montana, the typical worker earns $37,150 a year — though pay ranges from $30,500 for newcomers to $50,600 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Montana
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,500 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $33,540 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $37,150 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $42,900 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $50,600 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,290 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Montana (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Montana
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $37,150 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Montana state income tax, a single filer keeps about $31,041 — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
| Gross (median) | $37,150 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,278 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,842 |
| Montana state income tax | −$989 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,041 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,587 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Montana paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Montana?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Montana is $37,150 per year ($17.86 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $33,540 and $42,900.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Montana?
- On the median salary of $37,150, a single filer in Montana takes home about $31,041 per year ($2,587 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Montana?
- BLS counts 2,290 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Montana in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Montana
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 Montana 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 Montana.