Food Preparation Workers pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,860 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in State College earn between $27,660 and $36,220.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,500 | $2,625 | $15.14 |
| Median | $31,210 | $2,601 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,660 | $2,305 | $13.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,220 | $3,018 | $17.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $31,500, a single filer in State College takes home about $26,523 a year, or $2,210 a month and $1,020 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 State College a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $31,500 buys what about $32,554 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 9th 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
- Erie$30,920
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 State College: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in State College?
$15.15 an hour on average, and $15.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in State College?
About $26,523 a year ($2,210 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,500. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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