Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Pennsylvania

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Pennsylvania

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $36,540 —2.4% below the national median of $37,450. That ranks PA #31 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$36,540
Median hourly
$17.57
Entry level (P10)
$28,390
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$46,380
90th percentile
Employment
24,490
4.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-2.4%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$28,390
$31,160
$36,540
$41,020
$28,390$36,540$46,380
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $36,540.

Employment is 1.42× as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Pennsylvania

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.

OccupationPennsylvania medianU.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, institution and cafeteria make in Pennsylvania?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania is $36,540, or $17.57 per hour. That is 2.4% below the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Pennsylvania?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $28,390 per year ($13.65/hour). The 25th percentile is $31,160.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania?

About 24,490 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 4.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Pennsylvania a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Pennsylvania ranks #31 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.42x as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes