Food Preparation Workers pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,360 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Pittsburgh earn between $26,830 and $35,520.
- $19K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,870 | $2,572 | $14.84 |
| Median | $30,120 | $2,510 | $14.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,830 | $2,236 | $12.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,520 | $2,960 | $17.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $30,870, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $26,036 a year, or $2,170 a month and $1,001 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $30,870 buys what about $32,608 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 11th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($34,950).
- Philadelphia$34,950
- Allentown$33,970
- Reading$32,410
- Lancaster$32,240
- Harrisburg$32,070
- York$31,740
- Lebanon$31,730
- Gettysburg$31,690
- State College$31,500
- Pittsburgh$30,870
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Pittsburgh: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$14.84 an hour on average, and $14.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $26,036 a year ($2,170 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,870. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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