Cooks, Fast Food salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median of $26,620 a year ($12.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,720 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 8% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $28,810. There are 1.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $27,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Pittsburgh, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| 25th percentile | $24,770 | $11.91 |
| Median | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| 75th percentile | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Average (mean) | $27,690 | $13.31 |
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 | $2,218.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,109.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,023.85 |
| Weekly | $511.92 |
| Hourly | $12.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $17,150 | $8.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,530 | $19.48 |
| Bartender | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| Dishwasher | $30,000 | $14.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,320 | $31.88 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $32,290 | $15.53 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh, PA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $26,620 a year, or $12.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn at least $38,720 a year. The top 25% earn $30,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Pittsburgh, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,810 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $24,770 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Pittsburgh, PA?
About 1,620 cooks, fast food are employed in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.