Cooks, Restaurant salary in Reading, PA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $36,020 a year ($17.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,820 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,580. There are 8.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,570, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,760 | $10.94 |
| 25th percentile | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Median | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| 75th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| Average (mean) | $34,570 | $16.62 |
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 | $3,001.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,500.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,385.38 |
| Weekly | $692.69 |
| Hourly | $17.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,090 | $13.51 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Bartender | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,800 | $19.14 |
| Dishwasher | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,330 | $13.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,910 | $13.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Reading, PA
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Reading, PA metro area is $36,020 a year, or $17.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $44,820 a year. The top 25% earn $38,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,760 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,000 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Reading, PA?
About 1,420 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.