Food Preparation Worker salary in Reading, PA
Food Preparation Workers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $31,580 a year ($15.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,790 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 2% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $30,840. There are 3.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $32,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,960 | $11.04 |
| 25th percentile | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Median | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,790 | $19.13 |
| Average (mean) | $32,410 | $15.58 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,631.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,315.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,214.62 |
| Weekly | $607.31 |
| Hourly | $15.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,560 | 10,780 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $33,430 | 1,360 |
| Lancaster, PA | $31,580 | 940 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $31,500 | 120 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $31,370 | 970 |
| State College, PA | $31,210 | 260 |
| Lebanon, PA | $31,200 | 180 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $31,100 | 430 |
| Altoona, PA | $30,300 | 270 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,120 | 3,290 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $29,890 | 170 |
| Erie, PA | $29,620 | 370 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $29,210 | 940 |
| Williamsport, PA | $28,480 | 190 |
| Johnstown, PA | $24,920 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,090 | $13.51 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Bartender | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,800 | $19.14 |
| Dishwasher | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,330 | $13.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,910 | $13.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Reading, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Reading, PA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Reading, PA metro area is $31,580 a year, or $15.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $39,790 a year. The top 25% earn $36,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,960 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $27,830 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Reading, PA?
About 590 food preparation workers are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.