Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Dover
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,030 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Dover earn between $38,810 and $44,090.
- $35K10th
- $39K25th
- $41KMedian
- $44K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,290 | $3,441 | $19.85 |
| Median | $41,370 | $3,448 | $19.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,810 | $3,234 | $18.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,090 | $3,674 | $21.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Dover vs. Delaware and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Dover earn 3% less than the Delaware average ($42,720) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $41,290 | $41,370 | $35,060 | $46,030 | 520 |
| Delaware | $42,720 | $44,080 | $35,870 | $47,560 | 2,680 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Dover
On the average salary of $41,290, a single filer in Dover takes home about $33,632 a year, or $2,803 a month and $1,294 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Dover a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dover area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.5), so the average $41,290 buys what about $42,346 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Dover ($46,690). A typical home costs $372,156, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in nearby metro areas
- Vineland, NJ$44,960
- Atlantic City, NJ$41,940
- Philadelphia, PA$39,980
- Baltimore, MD$41,670
- Salisbury, MD$46,120
- Lancaster, PA$37,820
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Dover: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Dover?
$19.85 an hour on average, and $19.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Dover?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Dover?
About $33,632 a year ($2,803 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,290.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Dover than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Dover, DE (20100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.70, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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