Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Southwestern Pennsylvania

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $31,080 -14.7% vs national
Median hourly $14.94
10th percentile $24,750
90th percentile $39,660
Employed locally 710
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Southwestern Pennsylvania stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Southwestern Pennsylvania
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,750
    25th
    $28,060
    50th (median)
    $31,080
    75th
    $36,990
    90th
    $39,660

    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

    Related occupations in Southwestern Pennsylvania

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,660
    Waiters and Waitresses $27,550
    Cooks, Restaurant $31,200
    Bartenders $20,720
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,200
    Food Preparation Workers $27,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Southwestern Pennsylvania is $14.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.93 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Southwestern Pennsylvania is 14.7% 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 Southwestern Pennsylvania?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $24,750 per year in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,060.