Food Preparation Worker Salary in Allentown, PA
Food Preparation Workers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median $33,430 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,015 take-home, or $2,335 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Allentown, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,832
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,073
- Medicare (1.45%)$485
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,026
- Take-home pay$28,015
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Allentown, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,047 | $1,921 |
| 25th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 | $25,457 | $2,121 |
| Median (50th) | $33,430 | $16.07 | $28,015 | $2,335 |
| 75th percentile | $37,230 | $17.90 | $30,951 | $2,579 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,430 | $19.92 | $34,197 | $2,850 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,430 buys in Allentown, PA
Prices in Allentown, PA are 0.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.06× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,015 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,024 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Allentown, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Allentown, PA ranks #177 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 177 | Allentown, PA | $33,430 | $28,015 | $28,024 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $34,560
- Reading, PA — $31,580
- Lancaster, PA — $31,580
- Pittsburgh, PA — $30,120
- Harrisburg, PA — $31,370
- Scranton, PA — $29,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Allentown, PA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $33,430 a year, or about $16.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,120 and $37,230.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Allentown, PA?
On the median $33,430 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,015 a year ($2,335 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,026 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Allentown, PA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,024 would in a typical U.S. city. Allentown, PA ranks #177 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Allentown, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Allentown, PA is $1,365 a month ($1,667 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Allentown, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $63,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,780
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,370
- Bartender — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,270
- Dishwasher — $30,690
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,090
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,760