Food preparation worker pay in State College, PA at a glance
Median salary
$31,210$15.01 per hour · $2,601 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.
Food preparation worker salary in State College, PA after taxes
Food preparation workers pay range in State College, PA, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the State College, PA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $10.60/hr | $1,837 | $22,040 | $19,083 |
| 25th percentile | $13.30/hr | $2,305 | $27,660 | $23,539 |
| MedianMedian | $15.01/hr | $2,601 | $31,210 | $26,299 |
| 75th percentile | $17.41/hr | $3,018 | $36,220 | $30,171 |
| 90th percentile | $18.20/hr | $3,155 | $37,860 | $31,438 |
Is $31,210 a good salary in State College, PA?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.
Food preparation workers pay in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Food preparation worker pay in State College, PA: common questions
What is the median salary for food preparation workers in State College, PA?
The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the State College, PA metro area was $31,210 in May 2025, about $2,601 a month or $15.01 an hour. Statewide, the Pennsylvania median for this job is $30,840, so the metro pays 1% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in State College, PA?
The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in State College, PA was $15.01 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.60 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.20.
How many food preparation workers work in State College, PA?
BLS estimated 260 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 3.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.67 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for food preparation workers in State College, PA?
BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in State College, PA run from $22,040 at the 10th percentile to $27,660 at the 25th, $36,220 at the 75th, and $37,860 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in State College, PA?
On a median gross salary of $31,210, an estimated $26,299 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,012 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Pennsylvania in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,911 (an effective rate of 15.7%).
How much do food preparation workers make per month in State College, PA?
On the median annual salary of $31,210, gross monthly income is $2,601. After federal, FICA, and Pennsylvania state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,192 per month (or $1,012 every two weeks).
Is $31,210 a good salary in State College, PA?
At $31,210, the median salary for food preparation workers is 42% of the State College, PA median household income ($74,291). It is 37% below the $49,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 96.8, so prices here run 3.2% below the U.S. average.