Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Pennsylvania
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
$17.57 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,418/year ($2,535/month) for a single filer
Pennsylvania ranks 31st of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 4% below the national average. Of the 24,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Pennsylvania, the typical worker earns $36,540 a year — though pay ranges from $28,390 for newcomers to $46,380 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Pennsylvania
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,390 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,160 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,540 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $41,020 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $46,380 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 24,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Pennsylvania (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Pennsylvania
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $36,540 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Pennsylvania state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,418 — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
| Gross (median) | $36,540 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,205 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,795 |
| Pennsylvania state income tax | −$1,122 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,418 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,535 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Pennsylvania paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Pennsylvania?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Pennsylvania is $36,540 per year ($17.57 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,160 and $41,020.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Pennsylvania?
- On the median salary of $36,540, a single filer in Pennsylvania takes home about $30,418 per year ($2,535 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Pennsylvania?
- BLS counts 24,490 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Pennsylvania in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Pennsylvania
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Pennsylvania state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Pennsylvania.