Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Altoona, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Altoona, PA

Median annual salary $48,680 -20.2% vs national
Median hourly $23.40
10th percentile $36,510
90th percentile $74,710
Employed locally 60
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Altoona, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,510
    25th
    $39,710
    50th (median)
    $48,680
    75th
    $64,620
    90th
    $74,710

    Altoona economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 80% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 20% 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 Altoona, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,350
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,550
    Cooks, Restaurant$31,320
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,600
    Bartenders$21,780
    Food Preparation Workers$28,520

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Altoona, PA is $23.40, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.29 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Altoona, PA is 20.2% 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 Altoona?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,510 per year in Altoona, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,710.