Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Altoona, PA

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

Median annual salary $31,320 -15% vs national
Median hourly $15.06
10th percentile $20,470
90th percentile $38,000
Employed locally 550
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Altoona, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,470
    25th
    $28,510
    50th (median)
    $31,320
    75th
    $35,330
    90th
    $38,000

    Altoona economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $46,270
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $42,290
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $39,710
    Grants Pass, OR $37,760
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,040
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $36,750

    Related occupations in Altoona, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,350
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,550
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,600
    Bartenders$21,780
    Food Preparation Workers$28,520
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$34,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Altoona?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Altoona, PA is $15.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.71 or more per hour.

    Is Altoona above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Altoona, PA is 15% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Altoona?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $20,470 per year in Altoona, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,510.