Cooks, Short Order salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Short Order in Pennsylvania earn a median of $19,910 a year ($9.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,460 for the top 10%. That is 45% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pennsylvania ranks 49th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.58 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $25,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,150 | $8.24 |
| 25th percentile | $17,150 | $8.24 |
| Median | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| 75th percentile | $31,360 | $15.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,460 | $19.45 |
| Average (mean) | $25,130 | $12.08 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $1,659.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $829.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $765.77 |
| Weekly | $382.88 |
| Hourly | $9.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $31,940 | 160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,360 | 1,340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $29,580 | n/a |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $28,970 | 130 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $28,350 | n/a |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,290 | 120 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,490 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $22,450 | 70 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $22,160 | 120 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $17,150 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
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, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Pennsylvania is $19,910 a year, or $9.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Pennsylvania earn at least $40,460 a year. The top 25% earn $31,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,150 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $17,150 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Pennsylvania?
About 3,510 cooks, short order are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.