Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Erie, PA

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

Median annual salary $51,810 -15.1% vs national
Median hourly $24.91
10th percentile $37,200
90th percentile $75,520
Employed locally 150
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Erie, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,200
    25th
    $42,010
    50th (median)
    $51,810
    75th
    $68,790
    90th
    $75,520

    Erie economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $61,476 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 84% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 16% 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 Erie, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,450
    Waiters and Waitresses $27,560
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,830
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,170
    Bartenders $21,950
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Erie, PA is $24.91, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.75 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Erie, PA is 15.1% 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 Erie?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $37,200 per year in Erie, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,010.