Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Pennsylvania

As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pennsylvania was $36,540 -2.4% vs national

Pennsylvania vs United States

PennsylvaniaUnited States
Median annual$36,540$37,450
Median hourly$17.57$18.01
Employment24,490441,050
Location quotient1.421.00

Data source: BLS OES state file (Pennsylvania) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025

Reading the data

Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $28,390, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $46,380 — a 1.6x gap between entry-level and top earners.

Employment density in Pennsylvania is 1.42x the national average — a above-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Pennsylvania?

The median annual wage in Pennsylvania is $36,540 ($17.57 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.

How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

The Pennsylvania median of $36,540 is 2.4% lower than the U.S. median of $37,450.

How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Pennsylvania?

Approximately 24,490 are employed in Pennsylvania, per BLS OES.