Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,800 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Pittsburgh earn between $53,020 and $80,400.
- $46K10th
- $53K25th
- $66KMedian
- $80K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,290 | $5,774 | $33.31 |
| Median | $66,320 | $5,527 | $31.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,020 | $4,418 | $25.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,400 | $6,700 | $38.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Pittsburgh earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($67,890) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $69,290 | $66,320 | $45,620 | $94,800 | 1,340 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $69,290, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $55,448 a year, or $4,621 a month and $2,133 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 Pittsburgh a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $69,290 buys what about $73,190 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 3rd 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
- State College$60,150
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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$33.31 an hour on average, and $31.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $55,448 a year ($4,621 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,290. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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