How much does a cook make in Pittsburgh?
$17,150a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area. That is $8.25 an hour or $1,429 a month.
- Hourly
- $8.25
- Vs. national median
- -52%
- Rank among cities
- 237 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $17,150Median: $17,150Highest 10%: $28,760
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,150 | $8.25 | |
| 25th | $17,150 | $8.25 | |
| Median | $17,150 | $8.25 | |
| 75th | $18,970 | $9.12 | |
| 90th | $28,760 | $13.83 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Allentown, PA | $31,940 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $31,360 |
| Lancaster, PA | $29,580 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $28,970 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $28,350 |
| Scranton, PA | $28,290 |
| Williamsport, PA | $25,490 |
| Erie, PA | $22,450 |
| York, PA | $22,160 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,100 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Pittsburgh?
The median hourly pay in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $8.25 ($17,150 a year).
Do cooks make more in Pittsburgh than the national average?
No: $17,150 against $35,880 nationally, 52% less.
How does Pittsburgh compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $19,910, so Pittsburgh pays 14% less.
Where does Pittsburgh rank for cook pay?
237 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $17,150 or less a year; the top 10% make $28,760 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.