Food Preparation Worker Salary in Scranton, PA
Food Preparation Workers in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $29,210 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,753 take-home, or $2,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,325
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,811
- Medicare (1.45%)$424
- Pennsylvania income tax$897
- Take-home pay$24,753
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,280 | $10.71 | $19,274 | $1,606 |
| 25th percentile | $27,710 | $13.32 | $23,578 | $1,965 |
| Median (50th) | $29,210 | $14.04 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 75th percentile | $34,400 | $16.54 | $28,764 | $2,397 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,450 | $18.00 | $31,121 | $2,593 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,210 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $24,753 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,458 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 Scranton, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #227 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 |
| 227 | Scranton, PA | $29,210 | $24,753 | $26,458 |
*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
- Reading, PA — $31,580
- Lancaster, PA — $31,580
- Pittsburgh, PA — $30,120
- Harrisburg, PA — $31,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Scranton, PA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $29,210 a year, or about $14.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,710 and $34,400.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $29,210 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $24,753 a year ($2,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $897 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,458 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #227 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,830
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,870
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,770
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,130
- Dishwasher — $28,100
- Bartender — $28,010
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,520