Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,400 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Philadelphia earn between $35,580 and $45,560.
- $30K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $46K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,980 | $3,332 | $19.22 |
| Median | $38,870 | $3,239 | $18.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,580 | $2,965 | $17.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,560 | $3,797 | $21.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Philadelphia earn 8% more than the Pennsylvania average ($36,950) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $39,980 | $38,870 | $30,340 | $48,400 | 9,810 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $39,980, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $33,077 a year, or $2,756 a month and $1,272 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $33,622 | $2,802 |
| Working in PA | $33,077 | $2,756 |
| Working in DE | $32,652 | $2,721 |
| Working in MD | $32,617 | $2,718 |
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 Philadelphia a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $39,980 buys what about $38,984 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 9.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Philadelphia?
$19.22 an hour on average, and $18.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $33,077 a year ($2,756 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,980. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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