Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,540 a year ($17.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,380 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pennsylvania ranks 31st of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 4.0 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| 25th percentile | $31,160 | $14.98 |
| Median | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 75th percentile | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Average (mean) | $36,950 | $17.76 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,045 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,522.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,405.38 |
| Weekly | $702.69 |
| Hourly | $17.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,870 | 9,810 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,570 | 1,750 |
| State College, PA | $37,100 | 260 |
| Lancaster, PA | $37,040 | 1,020 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,880 | 1,190 |
| Reading, PA | $36,590 | 810 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,230 | 290 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,100 | 4,890 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $36,030 | 900 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $35,770 | 170 |
| Williamsport, PA | $35,720 | 170 |
| Erie, PA | $35,620 | 500 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,320 | 1,080 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $34,910 | 220 |
| Altoona, PA | $34,610 | 290 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,450 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania is $36,540 a year, or $17.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania earn at least $46,380 a year. The top 25% earn $41,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,390 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $31,160 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Pennsylvania?
About 24,490 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.