EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Altoona, PA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Altoona, PA?

In the Altoona, PA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $30,300 a year ($14.57 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 270 of these jobs there. That is 32% below the $44,270 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $22,240 and $36,080; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Pennsylvania tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,596 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Altoona, PA at a glance

Median salary

$30,300$14.57 per hour · $2,525 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$22,240$10.69/hr
25th percentile$27,970$13.45/hr
75th percentile$34,710$16.69/hr
90th percentile$36,080$17.35/hr
Jobs in this metro270Location quotient 0.80 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here32% belowAll-jobs median $44,270
Against Pennsylvania2% belowStatewide median $30,840
Against the U.S.14% belowNational median $35,320

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 payWhat $30,000 a year leaves after tax in PennsylvaniaFederal tax, FICA and Pennsylvania withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$15 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $30,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $30,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Pennsylvania publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Pennsylvania.

Food preparation worker salary in Altoona, PA after taxes

$30,300
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,300
Net 84%
Fed 5%
PA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,596After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,133Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$984Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,456 / yr
Pennsylvania state income tax$930 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,318 / yr
Customize deductions in full Pennsylvania calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Altoona, PA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Altoona, PA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Altoona, PA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (PA)
10th percentile$10.69/hr$1,853$22,240$19,242
25th percentile$13.45/hr$2,331$27,970$23,785
MedianMedian$14.57/hr$2,525$30,300$25,596
75th percentile$16.69/hr$2,893$34,710$29,004
90th percentile$17.35/hr$3,007$36,080$30,063

Is $30,300 a good salary in Altoona, PA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$62,382Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)89.510.5% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household48.6%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Compare markets

Food preparation workers pay in other Pennsylvania metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Altoona, PA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Altoona, PA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Altoona, PA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Altoona, PA metro area was $30,300 in May 2025, about $2,525 a month or $14.57 an hour. Statewide, the Pennsylvania median for this job is $30,840, so the metro pays 2% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Altoona, PA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Altoona, PA was $14.57 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.69 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.35.

How many food preparation workers work in Altoona, PA?

BLS estimated 270 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.80 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Altoona, PA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Altoona, PA run from $22,240 at the 10th percentile to $27,970 at the 25th, $34,710 at the 75th, and $36,080 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Altoona, PA?

On a median gross salary of $30,300, an estimated $25,596 lands in net take-home pay per year ($984 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Pennsylvania in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,704 (an effective rate of 15.5%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Altoona, PA?

On the median annual salary of $30,300, gross monthly income is $2,525. After federal, FICA, and Pennsylvania state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,133 per month (or $984 every two weeks).

Is $30,300 a good salary in Altoona, PA?

At $30,300, the median salary for food preparation workers is 48.6% of the Altoona, PA median household income ($62,382). It is 32% below the $44,270 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 89.5, so prices here run 10.5% below the U.S. average.