Cooks, Fast Food pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,920 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in State College earn between $25,840 and $35,140.
- $22K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,260 | $2,522 | $14.55 |
| Median | $29,020 | $2,418 | $13.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,840 | $2,153 | $12.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,140 | $2,928 | $16.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in State College vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in State College earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($30,580) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College | $30,260 | $29,020 | $22,290 | $36,920 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,580 | $28,810 | $22,610 | $42,380 | 9,240 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $30,260, a single filer in State College takes home about $25,565 a year, or $2,130 a month and $983 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 State College a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $30,260 buys what about $31,273 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 11.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 5th of 11 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($34,630).
- Philadelphia$34,630
- Allentown$31,960
- Harrisburg$30,350
- Lancaster$30,260
- State College$30,260
- York$29,620
- Gettysburg$29,380
- Scranton$29,380
- Chambersburg$28,130
- Pittsburgh$27,690
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in State College: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in State College?
$14.55 an hour on average, and $13.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in State College?
About $25,565 a year ($2,130 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,260. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area State College, PA (44300). 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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