SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Erie
Erie, PA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Erie, PA is $29,620 per year, 16.1% below the national median of $35,320.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Erie, PA is $29,620 per year, 16.1% below the national median of $35,320. Pay ranges from under $22,710 at the tenth percentile to more than $39,120 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,620 to $34,490.
The area has 370 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.1 of every thousand jobs. Philadelphia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,560. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 325th of 345 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,710 | −35.7% |
| 25th | $27,620 | −21.8% |
| Median (50th) | $29,620 | −16.1% |
| 75th | $34,490 | −2.3% |
| 90th | $39,120 | +10.8% |
| Mean | $30,920 | −12.5% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $34,560 | 10,780 | |
| 2 | Allentown | $33,430 | 1,360 | |
| 3 | Lancaster | $31,580 | 940 | |
| 4 | Reading | $31,580 | 590 | |
| 5 | Gettysburg | $31,500 | 120 | |
| 6 | Harrisburg | $31,370 | 970 | |
| 7 | State College | $31,210 | 260 | |
| 8 | Lebanon | $31,200 | 180 | |
| 9 | York | $31,100 | 430 | |
| 10 | Altoona | $30,300 | 270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Erie run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $29,620 goes as far as $30,348 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,348US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,620 a year, 16.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,710 to $39,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 370 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $34,560.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Erie, PA?
The median annual wage is $29,620, or $14.24 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,320, so pay in Erie, PA is 16.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Erie, PA earns more than $39,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,710 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Philadelphia, at $34,560 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 370 jobs in this occupation in Erie, PA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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