Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Washington make a median of $40,910 a year, or about $19.67 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $40,104 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 62.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Washington?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for food preparation workers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 62.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $44K | +7% | 11,060 |
| Yakima | $42K | +2% | 600 |
| Walla Walla | $40K | -2% | 210 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $39K | -4% | 580 |
| Longview-Kelso | $38K | -6% | 260 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $38K | -6% | 810 |
| Bellingham | $38K | -7% | 630 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $38K | -7% | 680 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $38K | -8% | 280 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $37K | -11% | 330 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $36K | -11% | 1,310 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 62.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,093/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 87% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $41K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
Washington pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in Washington?
The median is $40,910 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,890, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $51,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,909/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 62.9% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $40,104 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.