Cooks, Restaurant salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Cooks, Restaurant in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $37,120 a year ($17.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,160 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,580. There are 8.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Median | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| 75th percentile | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Average (mean) | $37,170 | $17.87 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,093.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,546.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,427.69 |
| Weekly | $713.85 |
| Hourly | $17.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,120 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,250 | 3,370 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,400 | 1,020 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,890 | 260 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,520 | 2,510 |
| Lancaster, PA | $36,500 | 2,230 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $36,310 | 1,470 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,250 | 470 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,130 | 13,260 |
| Reading, PA | $36,020 | 1,420 |
| State College, PA | $35,990 | 730 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $35,350 | 400 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $34,870 | 2,170 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $34,620 | 500 |
| Altoona, PA | $34,210 | 530 |
| Erie, PA | $33,550 | 1,330 |
| Williamsport, PA | $32,340 | 500 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,040 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Cooks, All Other | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,090 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Bartender | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,270 | $15.04 |
| Dishwasher | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,370 | $16.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,220 | $30.39 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $37,120 a year, or $17.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $46,160 a year. The top 25% earn $41,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,540 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $32,220 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 3,200 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.