Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Lancaster
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,270 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lancaster earn between $31,690 and $43,620.
- $30K10th
- $32K25th
- $37KMedian
- $44K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,820 | $3,152 | $18.18 |
| Median | $37,040 | $3,087 | $17.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,690 | $2,641 | $15.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,620 | $3,635 | $20.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Lancaster vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lancaster earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($36,950) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $37,820 | $37,040 | $29,800 | $46,270 | 1,020 |
| 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 Lancaster
On the average salary of $37,820, a single filer in Lancaster takes home about $31,407 a year, or $2,617 a month and $1,208 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 Lancaster a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lancaster area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $37,820 buys what about $38,491 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lancaster ($48,210). A typical home costs $388,207, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Lancaster ranks 3rd 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
- Erie$36,300
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 Lancaster: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Lancaster?
$18.19 an hour on average, and $17.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Lancaster?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Lancaster?
About $31,407 a year ($2,617 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,820. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Lancaster than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lancaster, PA (29540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.42, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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