Cooks, Restaurant salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Restaurant in Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,580 a year ($17.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 54,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,120 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pennsylvania ranks 28th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,750, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,650 | $10.89 |
| 25th percentile | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Median | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| 75th percentile | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Average (mean) | $35,750 | $17.19 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,048.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,524.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,406.92 |
| Weekly | $703.46 |
| Hourly | $17.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,120 | 3,200 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,520 | 2,510 |
| Lancaster, PA | $36,500 | 2,230 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $36,310 | 1,470 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,250 | 470 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,130 | 13,260 |
| Reading, PA | $36,020 | 1,420 |
| State College, PA | $35,990 | 730 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $35,350 | 400 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $34,870 | 2,170 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $34,620 | 500 |
| Altoona, PA | $34,210 | 530 |
| Erie, PA | $33,550 | 1,330 |
| Williamsport, PA | $32,340 | 500 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,040 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Pennsylvania is $36,580 a year, or $17.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Pennsylvania earn at least $45,120 a year. The top 25% earn $39,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,890 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Pennsylvania?
About 54,100 cooks, restaurant are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.