SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Philadelphia
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · 9 metro areas compared
In Philadelphia, PA the median wage is $31,360.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Philadelphia, PA the median wage is $31,360. That is 12.6% lower than the national median of $35,880. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $18,700 and $38,920. The lowest tenth earn under $18,700, while the highest tenth earn more than $42,810.
The area has 1,340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.52 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Allentown leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,940. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 708th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,700 | −47.9% |
| 25th | $18,700 | −47.9% |
| Median (50th) | $31,360 | −12.6% |
| 75th | $38,920 | +8.5% |
| 90th | $42,810 | +19.3% |
| Mean | $29,400 | −18.1% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown | $31,940 | 160 | |
| 2 | Lancaster | $29,580 | — | |
| 3 | Harrisburg | $28,970 | 130 | |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $28,350 | — | |
| 5 | Scranton | $28,290 | 120 | |
| 6 | Williamsport | $25,490 | 50 | |
| 7 | Erie | $22,450 | 70 | |
| 8 | York | $22,160 | 120 | |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | $17,150 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Philadelphia run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $31,360 goes as far as $32,131 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$31,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,131US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $31,360 a year, 12.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,700 to $42,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Allentown, at $31,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Philadelphia, PA?
The median annual wage is $31,360, or $15.08 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 $35,880, so pay in Philadelphia, PA is 12.6% 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 Philadelphia, PA earns more than $42,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,700 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 Allentown, at $31,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,340 jobs in this occupation in Philadelphia, 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.
Explore related data