Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,630 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Altoona earn between $37,440 and $66,330.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $49KMedian
- $66K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,740 | $4,478 | $25.84 |
| Median | $49,040 | $4,087 | $23.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,330 | $5,528 | $31.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Altoona earn 21% less than the Pennsylvania average ($67,890) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $53,740 | $49,040 | $32,020 | $79,630 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 | $63,860 | $39,040 | $95,830 | 9,170 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Altoona
On the average salary of $53,740, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $43,710 a year, or $3,643 a month and $1,681 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $53,740 buys what about $60,040 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 16th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($71,310).
- Philadelphia$71,310
- Reading$70,150
- Pittsburgh$69,290
- Allentown$66,010
- Scranton$64,410
- York$62,800
- Lancaster$61,840
- Johnstown$61,810
- Harrisburg$61,760
- Altoona$53,740
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Altoona: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Altoona?
$25.84 an hour on average, and $23.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Altoona?
About $43,710 a year ($3,643 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,740. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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