Food Preparation Worker Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Food Preparation Workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $34,560 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,888 take-home, or $2,407 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,967
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,143
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,061
- Take-home pay$28,888
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,293 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,595 ($2,300 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,240 | $13.58 | $23,999 | $2,000 |
| 25th percentile | $31,220 | $15.01 | $26,307 | $2,192 |
| Median (50th) | $34,560 | $16.62 | $28,888 | $2,407 |
| 75th percentile | $37,220 | $17.89 | $30,944 | $2,579 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,300 | $20.82 | $35,642 | $2,970 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,560 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,888 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,169 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 Philadelphia, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #45 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 45 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,560 | $28,888 | $28,169 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $30,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $34,560 a year, or about $16.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,220 and $37,220.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $34,560 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,888 a year ($2,407 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,061 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,169 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #45 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,570
- Bartender — $36,040
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,300
- Dishwasher — $33,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $32,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,220
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,220