Cooks, Restaurant salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median of $36,520 a year ($17.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,620 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,580. There are 7.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,530 | $12.76 |
| 25th percentile | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| Median | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 75th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Average (mean) | $36,580 | $17.59 |
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 | $3,043.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,521.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,404.62 |
| Weekly | $702.31 |
| Hourly | $17.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,520 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,120 | 3,200 |
| 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,070 | $13.02 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,970 | $13.93 |
| Cooks, All Other | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Bartender | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,950 | $19.21 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,340 | $14.10 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,690 | $28.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $36,520 a year, or $17.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn at least $47,620 a year. The top 25% earn $42,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,530 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,220 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About 2,510 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.