Cooks, Short Order salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Cooks, Short Order in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $31,940 a year ($15.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,060 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 60% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $19,910. There are 0.43 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $31,330, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,260 | $10.22 |
| 25th percentile | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| Median | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| 75th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,060 | $22.15 |
| Average (mean) | $31,330 | $15.06 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,661.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,330.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,228.46 |
| Weekly | $614.23 |
| Hourly | $15.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,940 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,920 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,360 | 9,990 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $33,400 | n/a |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,360 | 1,340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $29,580 | n/a |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $28,970 | 130 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $28,350 | n/a |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,290 | 120 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,490 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $22,450 | 70 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $22,160 | 120 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $17,150 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $31,940 a year, or $15.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $46,060 a year. The top 25% earn $38,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,260 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $22,790 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 160 cooks, short order are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.