Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Central Pennsylvania

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $57,390 -5.9% vs national
Median hourly $27.59
10th percentile $38,070
90th percentile $87,590
Employed locally 290
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Central Pennsylvania stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Central Pennsylvania
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,070
    25th
    $46,230
    50th (median)
    $57,390
    75th
    $75,040
    90th
    $87,590

    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

    Related occupations in Central Pennsylvania

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,840
    Waiters and Waitresses $27,920
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,210
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,930
    Bartenders $21,820
    Food Preparation Workers $27,730

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Central Pennsylvania is $27.59, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.53 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Central Pennsylvania is 5.9% 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 Central Pennsylvania?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $38,070 per year in Central Pennsylvania. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,230.