GS-7404 Cooking — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Cook — WG-7404. The verified average salary for GS-7404 Cookings is $71,778/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 3,350 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 3,350 • Redaction rate: 13.4%
GS-7404 Cooking — Pay at a Glance
The GS-7404 Cooking series showed 3,350 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $71,778/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
$72K
GS-7404 verified avg salary (2026)
3.4K
Non-redacted OPM records
GS-7404
OPM occupational series
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: Wage Grade (WG). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
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GS-7404 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $71,778 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 3,350 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 3,350 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 13.4% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | Wage Grade (WG) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | WG-5 to WG-10 | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 44.15% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Top Agencies Employing GS-7404 Cookings
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- ✓Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- ✓Department of Defense (DoD)
- ✓Department of the Interior (NPS)
Key Duties — GS-7404 Cooking
Representative duties for the 7404 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Cooking patient meals in hospital and long-term care settings (VA)
- →Preparing meals for military dining facilities (DoD DFACs)
- →Therapeutic diet preparation under clinical dietitian oversight
- →Batch cooking, portioning, and serving line management
- →Food safety compliance and sanitation standard enforcement
About the GS-7404 Cooking Series
Federal cooks operate under the Wage Grade (WG) pay system. VA medical centers employ the largest federal cook workforce, preparing three daily meals for inpatient veterans across 171 VA medical centers and many Community Living Centers (VA nursing homes). DoD dining facilities on military installations employ cooks at higher WG grades due to volume operations and specialized training requirements. The $71,778 average — higher than the food service worker series ($48,925) — reflects the higher WG-5 to WG-10 grade clustering for cooks who perform skilled culinary work rather than basic food service assistance. The 13.4% redaction is primarily DoD positions. This series covers professional cooking positions; separate from the food service assistant series (WG-7408).
Calculate Your Exact GS-7404 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-7404 Cooking — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-7404 Cooking?↓
The verified average salary for the GS-7404 Cooking series is $71,778 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (3,350 non-redacted records; 13.4% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 7404 series?↓
The GS-7404 Cooking series typically spans WG-5 to WG-10. Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.
Which agencies employ GS-7404 Cookings?↓
The largest federal employers of GS-7404 Cookings include: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Interior (NPS). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-7404 positions?↓
Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 44% in San Jose–San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-7404 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?↓
Yes, most GS-7404 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
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Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages
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Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The
annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.