Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Altoona, PA

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

Median annual salary $34,430 -5.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.55
10th percentile $26,870
90th percentile $44,710
Employed locally 270
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Altoona, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,870
    25th
    $28,440
    50th (median)
    $34,430
    75th
    $37,070
    90th
    $44,710

    Altoona economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 57% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 43% 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 Altoona, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,350
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,550
    Cooks, Restaurant $31,320
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,600
    Bartenders $21,780
    Food Preparation Workers $28,520

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Altoona, PA is $16.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.38 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Altoona, PA is 5.5% below 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 Altoona?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $26,870 per year in Altoona, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,440.