How much does a cook make in Pittsburgh?
$36,100a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area. That is $17.36 an hour or $3,008 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.36
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 224 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 4,890
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,710Median: $36,100Highest 10%: $44,810
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,710 | $13.80 | |
| 25th | $31,330 | $15.06 | |
| Median | $36,100 | $17.36 | |
| 75th | $40,310 | $19.38 | |
| 90th | $44,810 | $21.54 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Philadelphia, PA | $38,870 |
| 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 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,530 |
| Cook | $36,130 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,470 |
| Food Server | $34,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $32,290 |
| Host and Hostess | $30,260 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,120 |
| Dishwasher | $30,000 |
| Bartender | $29,750 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Pittsburgh?
The median hourly pay in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $17.36 ($36,100 a year).
Do cooks make more in Pittsburgh than the national average?
No: $36,100 against $37,450 nationally, 4% less.
How does Pittsburgh compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $36,540, so Pittsburgh pays 1% less.
Where does Pittsburgh rank for cook pay?
224 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,710 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,810 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.