Food Preparation Worker Salary in Reading, PA
Food Preparation Workers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $31,580 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,585 take-home, or $2,215 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,610
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,958
- Medicare (1.45%)$458
- Pennsylvania income tax$970
- Take-home pay$26,585
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,960 | $11.04 | $19,813 | $1,651 |
| 25th percentile | $27,830 | $13.38 | $23,674 | $1,973 |
| Median (50th) | $31,580 | $15.18 | $26,585 | $2,215 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 | $30,001 | $2,500 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,790 | $19.13 | $32,930 | $2,744 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,580 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,585 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,390 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 Reading, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #201 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 |
| 201 | Reading, PA | $31,580 | $26,585 | $27,390 |
*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
- Allentown, PA — $33,430
- 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 Reading, PA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $31,580 a year, or about $15.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,830 and $36,000.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $31,580 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $26,585 a year ($2,215 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $970 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,390 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #201 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,800
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,760
- Bartender — $28,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,090
- Dishwasher — $27,650