Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Idaho make a median of $31,510 a year, or about $15.15 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $33,564 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 52.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Idaho?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for food preparation workers in Idaho runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 51.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for food preparation workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Idaho
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | $37K | +17% | 480 |
| Lewiston | $36K | +14% | 170 |
| Boise City | $35K | +12% | 1,830 |
| Idaho Falls | $30K | -3% | 400 |
| Twin Falls | $30K | -5% | 290 |
| Pocatello | $29K | -7% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 51.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,329/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 85% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $32K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
Idaho pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in Idaho?
The median is $31,510 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,150, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $40,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 51.3% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $33,564 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.