Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Nebraska
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Nebraska (2026)
$17.50 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,467/year ($2,539/month) for a single filer
Nebraska ranks 33rd of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 4% below the national average. Of the 4,410 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Nebraska, the typical worker earns $36,390 a year — though pay ranges from $29,890 for newcomers to $45,380 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Nebraska
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $29,890 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,040 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,390 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $39,370 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,380 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 4,410 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Nebraska (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Nebraska
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $36,390 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Nebraska state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,467 — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
| Gross (median) | $36,390 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,187 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,784 |
| Nebraska state income tax | −$952 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,467 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,539 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Nebraska paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Nebraska?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Nebraska is $36,390 per year ($17.50 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,040 and $39,370.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Nebraska?
- On the median salary of $36,390, a single filer in Nebraska takes home about $30,467 per year ($2,539 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Nebraska?
- BLS counts 4,410 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Nebraska in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Nebraska
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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska.