Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Harrisburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,570 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Harrisburg earn between $43,430 and $75,570.
- $35K10th
- $43K25th
- $60KMedian
- $76K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,760 | $5,147 | $29.69 |
| Median | $59,690 | $4,974 | $28.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,430 | $3,619 | $20.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,570 | $6,298 | $36.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Harrisburg vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Harrisburg earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($67,890) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | $61,760 | $59,690 | $35,020 | $89,570 | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 | $63,860 | $39,040 | $95,830 | 9,170 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Harrisburg
On the average salary of $61,760, a single filer in Harrisburg takes home about $49,908 a year, or $4,159 a month and $1,920 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Harrisburg a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Harrisburg area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.7), so the average $61,760 buys what about $62,605 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Harrisburg ($49,610). A typical home costs $312,126, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Harrisburg ranks 9th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($71,310).
- Philadelphia$71,310
- Reading$70,150
- Pittsburgh$69,290
- Allentown$66,010
- Scranton$64,410
- York$62,800
- Lancaster$61,840
- Johnstown$61,810
- Harrisburg$61,760
- State College$60,150
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Harrisburg: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Harrisburg?
$29.69 an hour on average, and $28.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Harrisburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Harrisburg?
About $49,908 a year ($4,159 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,760. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Harrisburg than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA (25420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.