Food Preparation Workers Salary in Salem, OR
Food Preparation Workers in Salem, OR make a median of $36,100 a year, or about $17.36 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.65), that's roughly $34,829 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,560/month — about 62.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Salem?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salem’s Regional Price Parity (103.65). 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, Salem, OR
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $45K 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 Salem numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation workers make in Salem, OR?
The median is $36,100 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,780, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $44,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,560/month, which eats 65.9% 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 Salem?
Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 103.65 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation workers salary is worth about $34,829 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.