Food Preparation Workers Salary in Pennsylvania

As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in Pennsylvania was $30,840 -12.7% vs national

Pennsylvania vs United States

PennsylvaniaUnited States
Median annual$30,840$35,320
Median hourly$14.83$16.98
Employment17,940893,600
Location quotient0.511.00

Data source: BLS OES state file (Pennsylvania) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025

What this means

Employment density in Pennsylvania is 0.51x the national average — a below-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.

For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $22,360, median pay is $30,840, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $39,600.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average food preparation workers salary in Pennsylvania?

The median annual wage in Pennsylvania is $30,840 ($14.83 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.

How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for food preparation workers?

The Pennsylvania median of $30,840 is 12.7% lower than the U.S. median of $35,320.

How many food preparation workers work in Pennsylvania?

Approximately 17,940 are employed in Pennsylvania, per BLS OES.