Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Fast Foods in Pennsylvania make a median of $27,440 a year, or about $13.19 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $27K get you in Pennsylvania?
About cooks, fast foods
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in Pennsylvania
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $29K | +7% | 5,230 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $28K | +3% | 610 |
| Reading | $28K | +2% | 410 |
| Lancaster | $28K | +1% | 700 |
| York-Hanover | $28K | +1% | 510 |
| State College | $27K | +0% | 230 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $27K | -0% | 620 |
| Gettysburg | $27K | -1% | 70 |
| Chambersburg | $27K | -1% | 210 |
| Altoona | $25K | -7% | 190 |
| Pittsburgh | $24K | -12% | 2,010 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $27,440 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,930, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $37,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,937/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 69.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, fast food salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $28,893 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.