Cooks, Restaurant pay in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (PA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $18.40 an hour ($38,270 a year). About 24,220 people work in this job there.
That is 2% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 5% higher than the Pennsylvania median ($36,580).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (PA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.30 | $29,750 |
| 25% of workers | $17.21 | $35,790 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.40 | $38,270 |
| 75% of workers | $21.18 | $44,040 |
| 90% of workers | $22.60 | $47,010 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Pennsylvania metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (this page) | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $37,120 | 3,200 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $36,520 | 2,510 |
| Lancaster | $36,500 | 2,230 |
| York-Hanover | $36,310 | 1,470 |
| Lebanon | $36,250 | 470 |
| Pittsburgh | $36,130 | 13,260 |
| Reading | $36,020 | 1,420 |
| State College | $35,990 | 730 |
| Gettysburg | $35,350 | 400 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $34,870 | 2,170 |
| Chambersburg | $34,620 | 500 |
| Altoona | $34,210 | 530 |
| Erie | $33,550 | 1,330 |
| Williamsport | $32,340 | 500 |
| Johnstown | $30,040 | 460 |
Pennsylvania unemployment rate: 3.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (PA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,560 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,870 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,680 |
| Bakers | $37,770 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 |
| Food Batchmakers | $37,010 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,810 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,360 |
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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.