How much does a food preparation worker make in Philadelphia?
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $16.62 an hour or $2,880 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.62
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 155 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 10,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,240 | $13.58 | |
| 25th | $31,220 | $15.01 | |
| Median | $34,560 | $16.62 | |
| 75th | $37,220 | $17.89 | |
| 90th | $43,300 | $20.82 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Allentown, PA | $33,430 |
| Lancaster, PA | $31,580 |
| Reading, PA | $31,580 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $31,500 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $31,370 |
| State College, PA | $31,210 |
| Lebanon, PA | $31,200 |
| York, PA | $31,100 |
| Altoona, PA | $30,300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,120 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $29,890 |
| Erie, PA | $29,620 |
| Scranton, PA | $29,210 |
| Williamsport, PA | $28,480 |
| Johnstown, PA | $24,920 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,680 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,580 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Cook | $38,270 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,570 |
| Bartender | $36,040 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,190 |
| Food Server | $33,300 |
| Dishwasher | $33,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $16.62 ($34,560 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
No: $34,560 against $35,320 nationally, 2% less.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $30,840, so Philadelphia pays 12% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for food preparation worker pay?
155 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,300 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.