Food Preparation Workers Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Food Preparation Workers in Cedar Rapids, IA make a median of $29,850 a year, or about $14.35 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.96), which stretches that salary to about $33,554 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $956/month — about 45.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $30K get you in Cedar Rapids?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cedar Rapids’s Regional Price Parity (88.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food preparation workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cedar Rapids, IA
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39K | +14% | 21,090 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +12% | 3,320 |
| California | $38K | +11% | 98,950 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | +10% | 14,890 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +9% | 4,780 |
| Vermont | $37K | +8% | 1,260 |
| Alaska | $37K | +7% | 2,840 |
| Oregon | $36K | +6% | 13,890 |
| New York | $36K | +5% | 51,880 |
| Maine | $36K | +4% | 5,540 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +4% | 700 |
| Arizona | $35K | +4% | 15,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +4% | 2,250 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +4% | 11,450 |
| Florida | $35K | +3% | 67,030 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +3% | 3,520 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +2% | 25,170 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 23,720 |
| Wyoming | $34K | +0% | 1,580 |
| Maryland | $34K | +0% | 12,160 |
| Illinois | $34K | -0% | 29,320 |
| Nevada | $34K | -1% | 11,280 |
| Delaware | $33K | -3% | 2,480 |
| Georgia | $33K | -4% | 27,200 |
| Wisconsin | $33K | -4% | 19,940 |
| Michigan | $33K | -4% | 14,380 |
| Nebraska | $32K | -5% | 8,210 |
| Utah | $32K | -6% | 9,370 |
| Ohio | $32K | -8% | 19,290 |
| Virginia | $32K | -8% | 16,170 |
| Idaho | $31K | -8% | 4,530 |
| Montana | $31K | -8% | 2,700 |
| Missouri | $31K | -11% | 15,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -12% | 20,540 |
| Indiana | $30K | -12% | 15,340 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -12% | 14,500 |
| Iowa | $30K | -13% | 5,050 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -13% | 3,320 |
| Kansas | $29K | -14% | 7,520 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -14% | 24,420 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -14% | 8,330 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -15% | 22,530 |
| Texas | $29K | -16% | 106,040 |
| West Virginia | $28K | -19% | 2,830 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -20% | 5,860 |
| Oklahoma | $26K | -23% | 7,030 |
| Alabama | $26K | -25% | 14,540 |
| Kentucky | $25K | -28% | 15,500 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -32% | 7,490 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -33% | 35,130 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Cedar Rapids numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation workers make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median is $29,850 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,160, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $36,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Cedar Rapids?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,060/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $956/month, which eats 46.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food preparation workers salary go in Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids has a Regional Price Parity of 88.96 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation workers salary is worth about $33,554 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.