Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $38,870 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,219 take-home, or $2,685 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,484
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,410
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,193
- Take-home pay$32,219
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,454 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,765 ($2,564 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,340 | $14.59 | $25,627 | $2,136 |
| 25th percentile | $35,580 | $17.11 | $29,676 | $2,473 |
| Median (50th) | $38,870 | $18.69 | $32,219 | $2,685 |
| 75th percentile | $45,560 | $21.90 | $37,389 | $3,116 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,400 | $23.27 | $39,584 | $3,299 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,870 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $32,219 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,416 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #27 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,870 | $32,219 | $31,416 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $36,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $38,870 a year, or about $18.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,580 and $45,560.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $38,870 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $32,219 a year ($2,685 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,193 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,416 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #27 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,580
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,570
- Bartender — $36,040
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,300
- Dishwasher — $33,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $32,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,220
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,220