Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Allentown, PA-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Median annual salary $38,410 +5.4% vs national
Median hourly $18.47
10th percentile $30,110
90th percentile $45,330
Employed locally 1,820
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Allentown, PA-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,110
    25th
    $35,720
    50th (median)
    $38,410
    75th
    $44,040
    90th
    $45,330

    Allentown economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,602 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $47,910
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $43,600
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $43,200
    Grants Pass, OR $39,780
    Lexington Park, MD $39,380
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $39,070

    Related occupations in Allentown, PA-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,230
    Waiters and Waitresses$31,470
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,750
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,630
    Bartenders$30,630
    Food Preparation Workers$31,470

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Allentown?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Allentown, PA-NJ is $18.47, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.28 or more per hour.

    Is Allentown above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Allentown, PA-NJ is 5.4% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Allentown?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $30,110 per year in Allentown, PA-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,720.