Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Reading, PA

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

Median annual salary $27,930 -7.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.43
10th percentile $22,600
90th percentile $37,850
Employed locally 410
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Reading, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,600
    25th
    $23,520
    50th (median)
    $27,930
    75th
    $30,970
    90th
    $37,850

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 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 Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,320
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,020
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,510
    Bartenders $25,050
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,740

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Reading, PA is $13.43, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.20 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Reading, PA is 7.4% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,600 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,520.