Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Allentown, PA-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Median annual salary $58,820 -3.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.28
10th percentile $41,310
90th percentile $90,130
Employed locally 350
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,310
    25th
    $47,940
    50th (median)
    $58,820
    75th
    $71,380
    90th
    $90,130

    Allentown economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,602 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 71% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 29% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $76,350
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $64,590
    Lexington Park, MD $64,400
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,360
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $61,780
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $61,600

    Related occupations in Allentown, PA-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,230
    Waiters and Waitresses $31,470
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,750
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,630
    Bartenders $30,630
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $38,410

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Allentown?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Allentown, PA-NJ is $28.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $44.44 or more per hour.

    Is Allentown above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Allentown, PA-NJ is 3.6% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Allentown?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $41,310 per year in Allentown, PA-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,940.