How much does a cook make in Pittsburgh?
$26,620a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area. That is $12.80 an hour or $2,218 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.80
- Vs. national median
- -14%
- Rank among cities
- 245 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,620
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $17,810Median: $26,620Highest 10%: $38,720
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,810 | $8.56 | |
| 25th | $24,770 | $11.91 | |
| Median | $26,620 | $12.80 | |
| 75th | $30,070 | $14.46 | |
| 90th | $38,720 | $18.62 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Philadelphia, PA | $32,220 |
| State College, PA | $29,020 |
| Allentown, PA | $28,760 |
| York, PA | $28,520 |
| Scranton, PA | $27,840 |
| Lancaster, PA | $27,260 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $27,070 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $26,550 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $26,350 |
| Altoona, PA | $25,020 |
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 $12.80 ($26,620 a year).
Do cooks make more in Pittsburgh than the national average?
No: $26,620 against $30,890 nationally, 14% less.
How does Pittsburgh compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $28,810, so Pittsburgh pays 8% less.
Where does Pittsburgh rank for cook pay?
245 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $17,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,720 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.