Food Preparation Workers pay range in Scranton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,450 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Scranton earn between $27,710 and $34,400.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 |
| Median | $29,210 | $2,434 | $14.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,710 | $2,309 | $13.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,400 | $2,867 | $16.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Scranton vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Scranton earn 6% less than the Pennsylvania average ($31,880) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | $30,040 | $29,210 | $22,280 | $37,450 | 940 |
| 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 Scranton
On the average salary of $30,040, a single filer in Scranton takes home about $25,395 a year, or $2,116 a month and $977 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 Scranton a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Scranton area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $30,040 buys what about $32,109 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Scranton ($46,330). A typical home costs $227,793, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Scranton ranks 13th 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
- Scranton$30,040
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 Scranton: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Scranton?
$14.44 an hour on average, and $14.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Scranton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Scranton?
About $25,395 a year ($2,116 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,040. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Scranton than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA (42540). 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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