Cooks, Fast Food salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Fast Food in Pennsylvania earn a median of $28,810 a year ($13.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,380 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pennsylvania ranks 35th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.37). The average (mean) salary is $30,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| 25th percentile | $25,120 | $12.08 |
| Median | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 75th percentile | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,380 | $20.37 |
| Average (mean) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,400.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,200.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,108.08 |
| Weekly | $554.04 |
| Hourly | $13.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| State College, PA | $29,020 | 170 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $28,760 | 530 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $28,520 | 480 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $27,840 | 340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $27,260 | 460 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,070 | 510 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $26,620 | 1,620 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,550 | 180 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,350 | 80 |
| Altoona, PA | $25,020 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Dishwasher | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,860 | $30.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania is $28,810 a year, or $13.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania earn at least $42,380 a year. The top 25% earn $35,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,610 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $25,120 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Pennsylvania?
About 9,240 cooks, fast food are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.