Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $36,100 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,078 take-home, or $2,507 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,152
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,238
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,108
- Take-home pay$30,078
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $1,083 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,995 ($2,416 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,710 | $13.80 | $24,367 | $2,031 |
| 25th percentile | $31,330 | $15.06 | $26,392 | $2,199 |
| Median (50th) | $36,100 | $17.36 | $30,078 | $2,507 |
| 75th percentile | $40,310 | $19.38 | $33,332 | $2,778 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,810 | $21.54 | $36,809 | $3,067 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,100 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $30,078 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,771 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pittsburgh, PA has 1.6× the national concentration of cooks, institution and cafeteria jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,100 | $30,078 | $31,771 |
*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
- Philadelphia, PA — $38,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $36,100 a year, or about $17.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,330 and $40,310.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $36,100 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $30,078 a year ($2,507 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,108 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,771 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #24 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,120
- Dishwasher — $30,000
- Bartender — $29,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,540
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,250