Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in State College, PA

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

Median annual salary $37,450 +2.7% vs national
Median hourly $18.01
10th percentile $28,580
90th percentile $47,820
Employed locally 280
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
State College, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,580
    25th
    $33,020
    50th (median)
    $37,450
    75th
    $41,870
    90th
    $47,820

    State College economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,748 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 49% 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 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
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $28,340

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in State College, PA is $18.01, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.89 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in State College, PA is 2.7% 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 State College?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $28,580 per year in State College, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,020.