Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › New Mexico
Cafeteria Cook Salary in New Mexico (2026)
$17.54 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,883/year ($2,574/month) for a single filer
New Mexico ranks 32nd of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 4% below the national average. Of the 3,160 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in New Mexico, the typical worker earns $36,470 a year — though pay ranges from $28,920 for newcomers to $45,330 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in New Mexico
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,920 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $32,330 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,470 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $39,700 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,330 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,160 Cafeteria Cook jobs in New Mexico (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in New Mexico
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $36,470 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus New Mexico state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,883 — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
| Gross (median) | $36,470 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,196 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,790 |
| New Mexico state income tax | −$601 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,883 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,574 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free New Mexico paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in New Mexico?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in New Mexico is $36,470 per year ($17.54 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $32,330 and $39,700.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in New Mexico?
- On the median salary of $36,470, a single filer in New Mexico takes home about $30,883 per year ($2,574 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in New Mexico?
- BLS counts 3,160 Cafeteria Cook jobs in New Mexico in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in New Mexico
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 Mexico 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 Mexico.