Cooks, Short Order salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Cooks, Short Order in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median of $28,970 a year ($13.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,760 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 46% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $19,910. There are 0.38 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $29,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,270 | $8.31 |
| 25th percentile | $19,110 | $9.19 |
| Median | $28,970 | $13.93 |
| 75th percentile | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| Average (mean) | $29,450 | $14.16 |
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 | $2,414.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,207.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,114.23 |
| Weekly | $557.12 |
| Hourly | $13.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,970 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $31,940 | 160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,360 | 1,340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $29,580 | n/a |
| 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,070 | $13.02 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $28,970 a year, or $13.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn at least $43,760 a year. The top 25% earn $36,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,270 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $19,110 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About 130 cooks, short order are employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.