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Erie, PA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Erie, PA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $29,620 a year ($14.24 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 370 of these jobs there. That is 33% below the $44,460 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $22,710 and $39,120; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Pennsylvania tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,070 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Erie, PA at a glance

Median salary

$29,620$14.24 per hour · $2,468 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$22,710$10.92/hr
25th percentile$27,620$13.28/hr
75th percentile$34,490$16.58/hr
90th percentile$39,120$18.81/hr
Jobs in this metro370Location quotient 0.54 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here33% belowAll-jobs median $44,460
Against Pennsylvania4% belowStatewide median $30,840
Against the U.S.16% belowNational median $35,320

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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$14 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 Erie, PA after taxes

$29,620
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,620
Net 85%
Fed 5%
PA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,070After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,089Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$964Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,374 / yr
Pennsylvania state income tax$909 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,266 / yr
Customize deductions in full Pennsylvania calculator

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Erie, PA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (PA)
10th percentile$10.92/hr$1,893$22,710$19,614
25th percentile$13.28/hr$2,302$27,620$23,507
MedianMedian$14.24/hr$2,468$29,620$25,070
75th percentile$16.58/hr$2,874$34,490$28,834
90th percentile$18.81/hr$3,260$39,120$32,412

Is $29,620 a good salary in Erie, 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$63,354Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)91.09% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household46.8%of area median income

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

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Food preparation workers pay in other Pennsylvania metros

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

Food preparation worker pay in Erie, PA: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Erie, PA metro area was $29,620 in May 2025, about $2,468 a month or $14.24 an hour. Statewide, the Pennsylvania median for this job is $30,840, so the metro pays 4% below the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Erie, PA was $14.24 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.92 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.81.

How many food preparation workers work in Erie, PA?

BLS estimated 370 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.54 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Erie, PA run from $22,710 at the 10th percentile to $27,620 at the 25th, $34,490 at the 75th, and $39,120 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $29,620, an estimated $25,070 lands in net take-home pay per year ($964 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Pennsylvania in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,550 (an effective rate of 15.4%).

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

On the median annual salary of $29,620, gross monthly income is $2,468. After federal, FICA, and Pennsylvania state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,089 per month (or $964 every two weeks).

Is $29,620 a good salary in Erie, PA?

At $29,620, the median salary for food preparation workers is 46.8% of the Erie, PA median household income ($63,354). It is 33% below the $44,460 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 91.0, so prices here run 9% below the U.S. average.