Cooks, Short Order salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Cooks, Short Order in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median of $28,290 a year ($13.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,080 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 42% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $19,910. There are 0.49 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $26,970, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,870 | $8.11 |
| 25th percentile | $21,570 | $10.37 |
| Median | $28,290 | $13.60 |
| 75th percentile | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Average (mean) | $26,970 | $12.97 |
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 | $2,357.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,178.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,088.08 |
| Weekly | $544.04 |
| Hourly | $13.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,290 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 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $28,970 | 130 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $28,350 | n/a |
| 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,210 | $14.05 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,840 | $13.39 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Bartender | $28,010 | $13.47 |
| Dishwasher | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,750 | $29.21 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $28,290 a year, or $13.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn at least $36,080 a year. The top 25% earn $31,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,870 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $21,570 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
About 120 cooks, short order are employed in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.