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What does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary really buy you in Wyoming?
Wyoming is 8.1% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Wyoming's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.9, meaning prices are 8.1% lower the national average. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earning $36,940 in Wyoming has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,195 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $29,130 | $31,697 | +$2,567 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $31,960 | $34,776 | +$2,816 |
| Median (P50) | $36,940 | $40,195 | +$3,255 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $39,900 | $43,416 | +$3,516 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,830 | $52,045 | +$4,215 |
A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wyoming earns $36,940 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $40,195 in an average-cost state. This makes Wyoming one of the best value states for this occupation.
Wyoming's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.9 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.1% less than the national average. For a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Wyoming's RPP, the $36,940 median salary translates to $40,196 in real terms — a 8.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria.
Wyoming sits at #25 of 51 states for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wyoming ranks #25 out of 51 states for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria take-home pay in Wyoming after taxes →
A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wyoming earns a median salary of $36,940 per year. After adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living (RPP=91.9), the real purchasing power is $40,195 — a +8.8% difference.
Wyoming's cost of living is 8.1% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wyoming is 91.9 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wyoming: $36,940 x (100 / 91.9) = $40,195. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wyoming enjoys 8.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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