Food Preparation Worker salary in Pennsylvania
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Pennsylvania earns a median of $30,840 a year ($14.83/hour equivalent), 12.7% below the national median of $35,320. Pennsylvania ranks #37 of 51 states. About 17,940 people do this job in Pennsylvania.
Take-home pay in Pennsylvania
At the Pennsylvania median, a single filer keeps about $25,992 a year after federal, FICA and Pennsylvania taxes — $1,000 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Pennsylvania paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,186.15
- Federal income tax
- −$58.49
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$73.54
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$17.20
- Pennsylvania income tax
- −$36.41
- PA Unemployment Compensation
- −$0.83
- Take-home pay
- $999.68
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $30,840
- Federal
- $1,521
- FICA
- $2,359
- State + local
- $968
- Net
- $25,992
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.1%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Pennsylvania compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #37 | Pennsylvania | $30,840 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary is $30,840 a year and the average is $31,880 (BLS May 2025).
Is Pennsylvania a good state for food preparation workers?
Pennsylvania ranks #37 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 13% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $30,840 after taxes in Pennsylvania?
About $25,992 a year ($1,000 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.