SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Pittsburgh, PA is $36,100 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Pittsburgh, PA is $36,100 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $28,710 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,330 to $40,310.
Employment stands at 4,890, or 4.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Philadelphia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,870. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 580th of 645 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,710 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $31,330 | −16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $36,100 | −3.6% |
| 75th | $40,310 | +7.6% |
| 90th | $44,810 | +19.7% |
| Mean | $36,470 | −2.6% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $38,870 | 9,810 | |
| 2 | Allentown | $38,570 | 1,750 | |
| 3 | State College | $37,100 | 260 | |
| 4 | Lancaster | $37,040 | 1,020 | |
| 5 | Harrisburg | $36,880 | 1,190 | |
| 6 | Reading | $36,590 | 810 | |
| 7 | Lebanon | $36,230 | 290 | |
| 8 | York | $36,030 | 900 | |
| 9 | Gettysburg | $35,770 | 170 | |
| 10 | Williamsport | $35,720 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pittsburgh run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $36,100 goes as far as $36,988 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,100as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,988US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,100 a year, 3.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,710 to $44,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,890 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $38,870.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median annual wage is $36,100, or $17.36 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Pittsburgh, PA is 3.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Pittsburgh, PA earns more than $44,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,710 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Philadelphia, at $38,870 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,890 jobs in this occupation in Pittsburgh, PA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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