Chef and Head Cook Salary in Scranton, PA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $60,750 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,128 take-home, or $4,094 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,110
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,767
- Medicare (1.45%)$881
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,865
- Take-home pay$49,128
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,060 | $16.38 | $28,502 | $2,375 |
| 25th percentile | $44,210 | $21.25 | $36,345 | $3,029 |
| Median (50th) | $60,750 | $29.21 | $49,128 | $4,094 |
| 75th percentile | $81,990 | $39.42 | $63,993 | $5,333 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,470 | $49.26 | $77,772 | $6,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,750 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $49,128 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,511 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Scranton, PA has 1.4× the national concentration of chef and head cook jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #23 of 74 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 23 | Scranton, PA | $60,750 | $49,128 | $52,511 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 74 metros →
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $66,320
- Philadelphia, PA — $65,680
- Allentown, PA — $63,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Scranton, PA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $60,750 a year, or about $29.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,210 and $81,990.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $60,750 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $49,128 a year ($4,094 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,865 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,511 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #23 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,830
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,870
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,770
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,210
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,130
- Dishwasher — $28,100
- Bartender — $28,010
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,520