Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Scranton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,990 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Scranton earn between $30,350 and $38,470.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,220 | $2,935 | $16.93 |
| Median | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,350 | $2,529 | $14.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,470 | $3,206 | $18.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Scranton
On the average salary of $35,220, a single filer in Scranton takes home about $29,398 a year, or $2,450 a month and $1,131 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 Scranton a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Scranton area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $35,220 buys what about $37,646 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Scranton ($46,330). A typical home costs $227,793, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Scranton ranks 12th 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
- Scranton$35,220
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 Scranton: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Scranton?
$16.93 an hour on average, and $16.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Scranton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Scranton?
About $29,398 a year ($2,450 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,220. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Scranton than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($39,648).
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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA (42540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.49, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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