Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Colorado make a median of $38,960 a year, or about $18.73 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Colorado?
About food preparation workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $40K | +2% | 650 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $39K | +1% | 6,640 |
| Greeley | $39K | +0% | 530 |
| Colorado Springs | $37K | -4% | 1,190 |
| Grand Junction | $37K | -4% | 340 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $37K | -6% | 740 |
| Pueblo | $36K | -9% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 77.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food preparation workers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,848/month.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
Colorado pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +10%.
How much do food preparation workers make in Colorado?
The median is $38,960 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,800, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $49,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,636/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 77.5% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation workers salary is worth about $38,960 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.