Food Preparation Workers Salary by State and Metro Area
Food Preparation Workers in the United States earn a median salary of $35,320/year ($16.98/hr). Salaries range from $25,810 to $45,340 depending on experience. Below, compare salaries across all 50 states and DC and 30 metro areas where BLS publishes data.
$26K
10th percentile
$30K
25th percentile
$35K
Median
$39K
75th percentile
$45K
90th percentile
Where Food Preparation Workers have the most money left over after rent
Median pay minus estimated federal + state + FICA taxes, minus 12 months of rent at HUD's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. Darker green means more money left over each year. Hover any state for the breakdown.
View map data as a table
| State | Median (nominal) | Rent/mo (2BR) | Left after rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $36K | $1,008 | $19K |
| North Dakota | $37K | $1,034 | $18K |
| Nebraska | $35K | $1,113 | $16K |
| Montana | $34K | $1,129 | $15K |
| New Mexico | $33K | $1,119 | $15K |
| Ohio | $35K | $1,188 | $15K |
| Maine | $36K | $1,281 | $14K |
| South Dakota | $30K | $1,017 | $14K |
| Wisconsin | $34K | $1,202 | $14K |
| Idaho | $32K | $1,136 | $13K |
| Missouri | $32K | $1,097 | $13K |
| New Hampshire | $37K | $1,528 | $13K |
| Vermont | $37K | $1,498 | $13K |
| Washington | $41K | $1,830 | $13K |
| Arizona | $37K | $1,437 | $13K |
| Delaware | $36K | $1,448 | $12K |
| Georgia | $35K | $1,434 | $12K |
| Iowa | $30K | $1,064 | $12K |
| Kansas | $30K | $1,066 | $12K |
| Minnesota | $35K | $1,384 | $12K |
| South Carolina | $32K | $1,263 | $12K |
| West Virginia | $28K | $1,008 | $12K |
| Florida | $36K | $1,658 | $11K |
| Illinois | $35K | $1,407 | $11K |
| Indiana | $30K | $1,144 | $11K |
| Michigan | $31K | $1,272 | $11K |
| Nevada | $33K | $1,501 | $11K |
| Oklahoma | $29K | $1,081 | $11K |
| Oregon | $37K | $1,555 | $11K |
| Rhode Island | $35K | $1,544 | $11K |
| Tennessee | $29K | $1,215 | $11K |
| Utah | $34K | $1,350 | $11K |
| Alaska | $36K | $1,643 | $11K |
| Arkansas | $28K | $1,021 | $11K |
| North Carolina | $30K | $1,284 | $10K |
| Pennsylvania | $31K | $1,351 | $10K |
| Texas | $31K | $1,415 | $10K |
| Colorado | $39K | $1,832 | $10K |
| Connecticut | $37K | $1,679 | $10K |
| Alabama | $28K | $1,085 | $10K |
| Kentucky | $27K | $1,110 | $9K |
| Mississippi | $26K | $1,077 | $9K |
| Virginia | $35K | $1,646 | $9K |
| Maryland | $36K | $1,795 | $8K |
| District of Columbia | $40K | $2,146 | $7K |
| Louisiana | $24K | $1,191 | $6K |
| New York | $36K | $1,917 | $6K |
| New Jersey | $36K | $2,067 | $5K |
| Hawaii | $38K | $2,240 | $4K |
| Massachusetts | $39K | $2,347 | $3K |
| California | $39K | $2,471 | $3K |
Food Preparation Workers salary by state
| State | Median | Hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $41K | $19.67/hr | 19,510 |
| District of Columbia | $40K | $19.04/hr | 3,970 |
| California | $39K | $18.92/hr | 112,750 |
| Colorado | $39K | $18.73/hr | 12,080 |
| Massachusetts | $39K | $18.7/hr | 13,620 |
| Hawaii | $38K | $18.35/hr | 5,950 |
| Oregon | $37K | $18/hr | 11,860 |
| North Dakota | $37K | $17.69/hr | 980 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | $17.68/hr | 3,420 |
| Arizona | $37K | $17.67/hr | 16,590 |
| Connecticut | $37K | $17.62/hr | 12,250 |
| Vermont | $37K | $17.57/hr | 1,350 |
| Wyoming | $36K | $17.36/hr | 1,620 |
| Maine | $36K | $17.32/hr | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $36K | $17.28/hr | 2,400 |
| Florida | $36K | $17.27/hr | 73,100 |
| Alaska | $36K | $17.17/hr | 2,800 |
| New York | $36K | $17.12/hr | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $36K | $17.09/hr | 24,730 |
| Maryland | $36K | $17.07/hr | 13,280 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | $17.06/hr | 2,830 |
| Georgia | $35K | $16.95/hr | 26,450 |
| Nebraska | $35K | $16.93/hr | 6,890 |
| Virginia | $35K | $16.78/hr | 16,340 |
| Minnesota | $35K | $16.76/hr | 24,620 |
| Illinois | $35K | $16.75/hr | 34,820 |
| Ohio | $35K | $16.6/hr | 19,480 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | $16.38/hr | 17,990 |
| Montana | $34K | $16.28/hr | 2,990 |
| Utah | $34K | $16.12/hr | 10,530 |
| Nevada | $33K | $16.09/hr | 11,420 |
| New Mexico | $33K | $16.04/hr | 6,850 |
| South Carolina | $32K | $15.47/hr | 14,460 |
| Missouri | $32K | $15.15/hr | 13,650 |
| Idaho | $32K | $15.15/hr | 4,670 |
| Michigan | $31K | $14.99/hr | 17,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $31K | $14.83/hr | 17,940 |
| Texas | $31K | $14.74/hr | 81,280 |
| South Dakota | $30K | $14.63/hr | 3,270 |
| Iowa | $30K | $14.6/hr | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $30K | $14.56/hr | 7,680 |
| North Carolina | $30K | $14.55/hr | 24,960 |
| Indiana | $30K | $14.28/hr | 16,200 |
| Tennessee | $29K | $13.8/hr | 19,780 |
| Oklahoma | $29K | $13.72/hr | 7,430 |
| West Virginia | $28K | $13.63/hr | 2,960 |
| Alabama | $28K | $13.43/hr | 17,680 |
| Arkansas | $28K | $13.3/hr | 5,500 |
| Kentucky | $27K | $12.91/hr | 15,390 |
| Mississippi | $26K | $12.61/hr | 7,870 |
| Louisiana | $24K | $11.36/hr | 30,920 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Top paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $47K | 720 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46K | 5,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44K | 11,060 |
| Napa, CA | $43K | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43K | 1,410 |
| Yakima, WA | $42K | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41K | 14,470 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $40K | 510 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $40K | 210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40K | 44,930 |
| Boulder, CO | $40K | 650 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $40K | 9,630 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39K | 6,640 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $39K | 580 |
| Greeley, CO | $39K | 530 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39K | 830 |
| Merced, CA | $39K | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39K | 930 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39K | 9,360 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $39K | 6,870 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $39K | 670 |
| El Centro, CA | $39K | 320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $39K | 900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38K | 5,510 |
| Salinas, CA | $38K | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38K | 1,490 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $38K | 260 |
| Modesto, CA | $38K | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38K | 11,190 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $38K | 810 |