Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Harrisburg, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

Median annual salary $28,210 -6.5% vs national
Median hourly $13.56
10th percentile $22,500
90th percentile $37,690
Employed locally 610
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Harrisburg, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,500
    25th
    $23,590
    50th (median)
    $28,210
    75th
    $33,980
    90th
    $37,690

    Harrisburg economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,281 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 36% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $39,210
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $36,390
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $32,050
    Lexington Park, MD $31,840
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $30,760
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $30,200

    Related occupations in Harrisburg, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,350
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,370
    Cooks, Restaurant$35,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,040
    Bartenders$27,030
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Harrisburg?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Harrisburg, PA is $13.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.53 or more per hour.

    Is Harrisburg above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Harrisburg, PA is 6.5% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Harrisburg?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,500 per year in Harrisburg, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,590.