Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,920 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Altoona earn between $28,880 and $36,020.
- $22K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,360 | $2,697 | $15.56 |
| Median | $34,210 | $2,851 | $16.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,880 | $2,407 | $13.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,020 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Altoona earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($35,750) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $32,360 | $34,210 | $21,930 | $38,920 | 530 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,750 | $36,580 | $22,650 | $45,120 | 54,100 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Altoona
On the average salary of $32,360, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $27,188 a year, or $2,266 a month and $1,046 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, restaurant? 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 $32,360 buys what about $36,154 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 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 14th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($38,970).
- Philadelphia$38,970
- Allentown$37,170
- Harrisburg$36,580
- York$35,860
- Lebanon$35,630
- Lancaster$35,590
- State College$35,500
- Reading$34,570
- Gettysburg$34,560
- Altoona$32,360
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Restaurant salary in Altoona: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Altoona?
$15.56 an hour on average, and $16.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Altoona?
About $27,188 a year ($2,266 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,360. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.