Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Fast Food in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $28,810 —6.7% below the national median of $30,890. That ranks PA #35 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.37× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $48,120 | $23.14 | — | — |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 | $21.48 | 2,760 | 0.96 |
| 3 | California | $42,050 | $20.21 | 124,440 | 1.66 |
| 4 | Washington | $39,120 | $18.81 | 9,020 | 0.62 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 | $18.55 | 1,330 | 0.47 |
| 6 | Vermont | $38,230 | $18.38 | 640 | 0.51 |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,880 | $18.21 | 4,300 | 0.53 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,870 | $18.21 | — | — |
| 9 | Colorado | $36,900 | $17.74 | 9,220 | 0.78 |
| 10 | Maine | $36,350 | $17.48 | 1,470 | 0.56 |
Related occupations in Pennsylvania
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.
| Occupation | Pennsylvania median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,840 | $35,320 |
| Bartenders | $28,420 | $34,340 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast food make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania is $28,810, or $13.85 per hour. That is 6.7% below the national median of $30,890.
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Pennsylvania?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $22,610 per year ($10.87/hour). The 25th percentile is $25,120.
How many people work as cooks, fast food in Pennsylvania?
About 9,240 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 1.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Pennsylvania a good state for cooks, fast food?
Pennsylvania ranks #35 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.37x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.
Which state pays cooks, fast food the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage at $48,120 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($44,670) and California ($42,050).