Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Central Pennsylvania

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

Median annual salary $30,210 -18% vs national
Median hourly $14.52
10th percentile $20,000
90th percentile $38,200
Employed locally 1,450
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Central Pennsylvania
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,000
    25th
    $25,070
    50th (median)
    $30,210
    75th
    $36,290
    90th
    $38,200

    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

    Related occupations in Central Pennsylvania

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,840
    Waiters and Waitresses $27,920
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,930
    Bartenders $21,820
    Food Preparation Workers $27,730
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $33,240

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Central Pennsylvania?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Central Pennsylvania is $14.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.86 or more per hour.

    Is Central Pennsylvania above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Central Pennsylvania is 18% 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 Central Pennsylvania?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $20,000 per year in Central Pennsylvania. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $25,070.