Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

In the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $35,300 ($16.97/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,600/year and the 90th was $45,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New Jersey tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,013 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 100.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,300$16.97 per hour · $2,942 monthly
10th Percentile$29,600$14.23/hr base
25th Percentile$33,000$15.87/hr base
75th Percentile$41,900$20.14/hr base
90th Percentile$45,900$22.07/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$35,300
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,300
Net 85%
Fed 6%
NJ 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,013After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,501Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,154Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,056 / yr
New Jersey state income tax$530 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,700 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NJ)
10th Percentile$14.23/hr$2,467$29,600$25,533
25th Percentile$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$28,206
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.97/hr$2,942$35,300$30,013
75th Percentile$20.14/hr$3,492$41,900$35,079
90th Percentile$22.07/hr$3,825$45,900$38,072

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,300 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$84,587Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index100.0Exact national baseline
Individual vs Household Ratio41.7%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in New Jersey:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ is $35,300, which equates to approximately $2,942 per month or $16.97 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ is $16.97 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.23/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.07/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ span from $29,600 at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 25th, $41,900 at the 75th, and $45,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

On a median gross salary of $35,300, an estimated $30,013 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,154 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New Jersey in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,287 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

On the median annual salary of $35,300, gross monthly income is $2,942. After federal, FICA, and New Jersey state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,501 per month (or $1,154 every two weeks).

Is $35,300 a good salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?

At $35,300, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 41.7% of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ median household income ($84,587). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 100.0, making regional consumer goods and services 0% more expensive than the U.S. average.