Food Preparation Workers pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,080 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Altoona earn between $27,970 and $34,710.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,670 | $2,556 | $14.75 |
| Median | $30,300 | $2,525 | $14.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,970 | $2,331 | $13.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,710 | $2,892 | $16.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Altoona earn 4% less than the Pennsylvania average ($31,880) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $30,670 | $30,300 | $22,240 | $36,080 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,880 | $30,840 | $22,360 | $39,600 | 17,940 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Altoona
On the average salary of $30,670, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $25,882 a year, or $2,157 a month and $995 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $30,670 buys what about $34,265 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 12th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($34,950).
- Philadelphia$34,950
- Allentown$33,970
- Reading$32,410
- Lancaster$32,240
- Harrisburg$32,070
- York$31,740
- Lebanon$31,730
- Gettysburg$31,690
- State College$31,500
- Altoona$30,670
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Altoona: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Altoona?
$14.74 an hour on average, and $14.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Altoona?
About $25,882 a year ($2,157 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,670. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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