Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $30.70 an hour ($63,860 a year). About 9,170 people work in this job there.
That is 2% higher than the U.S. median ($62,470). Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Pennsylvania
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.77 | $39,040 |
| 25% of workers | $23.69 | $49,280 |
| Half of workers (median) | $30.70 | $63,860 |
| 75% of workers | $39.32 | $81,790 |
| 90% of workers | $46.07 | $95,830 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Pennsylvania metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | $66,980 | 210 |
| Pittsburgh | $66,320 | 1,340 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $63,220 | 570 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $60,750 | 450 |
| Chambersburg | $59,950 | 50 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $59,690 | 400 |
| State College | $58,560 | 120 |
| Lancaster | $58,040 | 280 |
| York-Hanover | $56,860 | 160 |
| Johnstown | $56,440 | 70 |
| Lebanon | $52,870 | 70 |
| Gettysburg | $52,000 | 50 |
| Erie | $51,340 | 150 |
| Altoona | $49,040 | 60 |
| Williamsport | $47,840 | 80 |
Pennsylvania unemployment rate: 3.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 |
| Food Service Managers | $64,750 |
| Bakers | $36,360 |
| Food Batchmakers | $39,920 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.