How much does a food preparation worker make in Reading?
$31,580a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Reading, PA metro area. That is $15.18 an hour or $2,632 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.18
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 223 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 590
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,960Median: $31,580Highest 10%: $39,790
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,960 | $11.04 | |
| 25th | $27,830 | $13.38 | |
| Median | $31,580 | $15.18 | |
| 75th | $36,000 | $17.31 | |
| 90th | $39,790 | $19.13 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Philadelphia, PA | $34,560 |
| Allentown, PA | $33,430 |
| Lancaster, 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 Reading
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,980 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,800 |
| Cook | $36,590 |
| Cook | $36,020 |
| Food Server | $30,810 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,760 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $28,910 |
| Bartender | $28,260 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $28,190 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,090 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Reading?
The median hourly pay in the Reading, PA metro area is $15.18 ($31,580 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Reading than the national average?
No: $31,580 against $35,320 nationally, 11% less.
How does Reading compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $30,840, so Reading pays 2% more.
Where does Reading rank for food preparation worker pay?
223 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,790 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.