Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in State College, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • State College, PA

Median annual salary $56,170 -7.9% vs national
Median hourly $27.01
10th percentile $36,510
90th percentile $82,380
Employed locally 70
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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State College, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,510
    25th
    $46,600
    50th (median)
    $56,170
    75th
    $72,680
    90th
    $82,380

    State College economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,748 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 77% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 23% 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 State College, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,540
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,390
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,390
    Bartenders $27,470
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in State College, PA is $27.01, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.67 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in State College, PA is 7.9% 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 State College?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,510 per year in State College, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,600.