Cooks, Short Order Salary in Pennsylvania
Cooks, Short Orders in Pennsylvania make a median of $18,400 a year, or about $8.85 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $18K get you in Pennsylvania?
About cooks, short orders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level cooks, short orders (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $18K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Short Order salary by metro in Pennsylvania
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $33K | +77% | 1,220 |
| Williamsport | $26K | +43% | 50 |
| York-Hanover | $26K | +39% | 100 |
| Lancaster | $25K | +34% | N/A |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $22K | +21% | 170 |
| Reading | $22K | +19% | 110 |
| Erie | $22K | +19% | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $22K | +19% | 250 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $18K | -2% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track cooks, short order 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, short orders make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $18,400 a year, that works out to about $9 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $16,640, and experienced cooks, short orders can clear $38,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $18K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,341/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 100.7% 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, short order 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, short order salary is worth about $19,375 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, short orders 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.