How much does a cook make in Philadelphia?
$38,870a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $18.69 an hour or $3,239 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.69
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 112 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 9,810
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,340Median: $38,870Highest 10%: $48,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,340 | $14.59 | |
| 25th | $35,580 | $17.11 | |
| Median | $38,870 | $18.69 | |
| 75th | $45,560 | $21.90 | |
| 90th | $48,400 | $23.27 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Allentown, PA | $38,570 |
| State College, PA | $37,100 |
| Lancaster, PA | $37,040 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $36,880 |
| Reading, PA | $36,590 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,230 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,100 |
| York, PA | $36,030 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $35,770 |
| Williamsport, PA | $35,720 |
| Erie, PA | $35,620 |
| Scranton, PA | $35,320 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $34,910 |
| Altoona, PA | $34,610 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,450 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,680 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,580 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Cook | $38,270 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,570 |
| Bartender | $36,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,190 |
| Food Server | $33,300 |
| Dishwasher | $33,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $18.69 ($38,870 a year).
Do cooks make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $38,870 against $37,450 nationally, 4% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $36,540, so Philadelphia pays 6% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for cook pay?
112 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,400 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.