How much does a cook make in Philadelphia?
$38,270a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $18.40 an hour or $3,189 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.40
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 82 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 24,220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,750Median: $38,270Highest 10%: $47,010
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,750 | $14.30 | |
| 25th | $35,790 | $17.21 | |
| Median | $38,270 | $18.40 | |
| 75th | $44,040 | $21.17 | |
| 90th | $47,010 | $22.60 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Allentown, PA | $37,120 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $36,520 |
| Lancaster, PA | $36,500 |
| York, PA | $36,310 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,250 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,130 |
| Reading, PA | $36,020 |
| State College, PA | $35,990 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $35,350 |
| Scranton, PA | $34,870 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $34,620 |
| Altoona, PA | $34,210 |
| Erie, PA | $33,550 |
| Williamsport, PA | $32,340 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,040 |
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 | $38,870 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| 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 $18.40 ($38,270 a year).
Do cooks make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $38,270 against $37,390 nationally, 2% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $36,580, so Philadelphia pays 5% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for cook pay?
82 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,750 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,010 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.