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Pittsburgh, PA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $30,120 a year ($14.48 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 3,290 of these jobs there. That is 39% below the $49,650 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $19,100 and $39,360; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Pennsylvania tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,457 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Pittsburgh, PA at a glance

Median salary

$30,120$14.48 per hour · $2,510 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$19,100$9.18/hr
25th percentile$26,830$12.90/hr
75th percentile$35,520$17.08/hr
90th percentile$39,360$18.93/hr
Jobs in this metro3,290Location quotient 0.51 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here39% belowAll-jobs median $49,650
Against Pennsylvania2% belowStatewide median $30,840
Against the U.S.15% 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$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 Pittsburgh, PA after taxes

$30,120
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,120
Net 85%
Fed 5%
PA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,457After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,121Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$979Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,434 / yr
Pennsylvania state income tax$925 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,304 / yr
Customize deductions in full Pennsylvania calculator

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (PA)
10th percentile$9.18/hr$1,592$19,100$16,752
25th percentile$12.90/hr$2,236$26,830$22,881
MedianMedian$14.48/hr$2,510$30,120$25,457
75th percentile$17.08/hr$2,960$35,520$29,630
90th percentile$18.93/hr$3,280$39,360$32,597

Is $30,120 a good salary in Pittsburgh, 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$75,762Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)94.75.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household39.8%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 Pittsburgh, PA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Pittsburgh, PA: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area was $30,120 in May 2025, about $2,510 a month or $14.48 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 Pittsburgh, PA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Pittsburgh, PA was $14.48 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.18 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.93.

How many food preparation workers work in Pittsburgh, PA?

BLS estimated 3,290 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 3.0 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.51 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Pittsburgh, PA run from $19,100 at the 10th percentile to $26,830 at the 25th, $35,520 at the 75th, and $39,360 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $30,120, an estimated $25,457 lands in net take-home pay per year ($979 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Pennsylvania in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,663 (an effective rate of 15.5%).

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

On the median annual salary of $30,120, gross monthly income is $2,510. After federal, FICA, and Pennsylvania state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,121 per month (or $979 every two weeks).

Is $30,120 a good salary in Pittsburgh, PA?

At $30,120, the median salary for food preparation workers is 39.8% of the Pittsburgh, PA median household income ($75,762). It is 39% below the $49,650 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 94.7, so prices here run 5.3% below the U.S. average.