Cooks, Fast Food Salary in State College, PA

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

Median annual salary $27,470 -8.9% vs national
Median hourly $13.21
10th percentile $22,420
90th percentile $34,890
Employed locally 230
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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State College, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,420
    25th
    $23,460
    50th (median)
    $27,470
    75th
    $28,490
    90th
    $34,890

    State College economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,748 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 38% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 62% 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 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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in State College?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in State College, PA is $13.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.75 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in State College, PA is 8.9% 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 State College?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,420 per year in State College, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,460.