Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,470 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Altoona earn between $28,540 and $37,740.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Median | $34,610 | $2,884 | $16.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,540 | $2,378 | $13.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,740 | $3,145 | $18.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Altoona earn 7% less than the Pennsylvania average ($36,950) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $34,320 | $34,610 | $26,940 | $44,470 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,950 | $36,540 | $28,390 | $46,380 | 24,490 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Altoona
On the average salary of $34,320, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $28,702 a year, or $2,392 a month and $1,104 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 Altoona a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $34,320 buys what about $38,343 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 14th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($39,980).
- Philadelphia$39,980
- Allentown$39,020
- Lancaster$37,820
- Lebanon$37,500
- State College$37,130
- York$37,120
- Reading$37,040
- Harrisburg$36,740
- Pittsburgh$36,470
- Altoona$34,320
All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in Pennsylvania
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Altoona: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Altoona?
$16.50 an hour on average, and $16.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Altoona?
About $28,702 a year ($2,392 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,320. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.76, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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