Cooks, Fast Food salary in Altoona, PA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Altoona, PA metro area earn a median of $25,020 a year ($12.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,890 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 13% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $28,810. There are 1.9 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $27,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Altoona, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,650 | $9.93 |
| 25th percentile | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| Median | $25,020 | $12.03 |
| 75th percentile | $32,290 | $15.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,890 | $18.21 |
| Average (mean) | $27,500 | $13.22 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,042.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $962.31 |
| Weekly | $481.15 |
| Hourly | $12.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $25,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| State College, PA | $29,020 | 170 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $28,760 | 530 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $28,520 | 480 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $27,840 | 340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $27,260 | 460 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,070 | 510 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $26,620 | 1,620 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,550 | 180 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,350 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Altoona, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,090 | $12.54 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,630 | $13.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Bartender | $22,460 | $10.80 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,160 | $13.06 |
| Dishwasher | $26,960 | $12.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,980 | $12.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,860 | $13.40 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,040 | $23.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Altoona, PA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Altoona, PA metro area is $25,020 a year, or $12.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Altoona, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Altoona, PA metro area earn at least $37,890 a year. The top 25% earn $32,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Altoona, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,670 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Altoona, PA?
About 110 cooks, fast food are employed in the Altoona, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.