Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Allentown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,160 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Allentown earn between $32,220 and $41,380.
- $28K10th
- $32K25th
- $37KMedian
- $41K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,170 | $3,098 | $17.87 |
| Median | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,220 | $2,685 | $15.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,380 | $3,448 | $19.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Allentown vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Allentown earn 4% more than the Pennsylvania average ($35,750) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $37,170 | $37,120 | $27,540 | $46,160 | 3,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,750 | $36,580 | $22,650 | $45,120 | 54,100 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Allentown
On the average salary of $37,170, a single filer in Allentown takes home about $30,905 a year, or $2,575 a month and $1,189 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $31,463 | $2,622 |
| Working in PA | $30,905 | $2,575 |
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 Allentown a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Allentown area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.0), so the average $37,170 buys what about $37,182 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Allentown ($48,990). A typical home costs $363,989, or 9.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Allentown ranks 2nd of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($38,970).
- Philadelphia$38,970
- Allentown$37,170
- Harrisburg$36,580
- York$35,860
- Lebanon$35,630
- Lancaster$35,590
- State College$35,500
- Reading$34,570
- Gettysburg$34,560
- Pittsburgh$34,230
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Allentown: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Allentown?
$17.87 an hour on average, and $17.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Allentown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Allentown?
About $30,905 a year ($2,575 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,170. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Allentown than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (10900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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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