Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › New Jersey
Cafeteria Cook Salary in New Jersey (2026)
$21.40 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,984/year ($3,082/month) for a single filer
New Jersey ranks 12th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 17% above the national average. Of the 7,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in New Jersey, the typical worker earns $44,520 a year — though pay ranges from $35,500 for newcomers to $53,060 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in New Jersey
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,500 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,520 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,090 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $53,060 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs in New Jersey (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in New Jersey
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $44,520 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus New Jersey state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,984 — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
| Gross (median) | $44,520 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,162 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,406 |
| New Jersey state income tax | −$967 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,984 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,082 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free New Jersey paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in New Jersey?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in New Jersey is $44,520 per year ($21.40 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,590 and $48,090.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in New Jersey?
- On the median salary of $44,520, a single filer in New Jersey takes home about $36,984 per year ($3,082 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in New Jersey?
- BLS counts 7,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs in New Jersey in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.