How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $17.47 an hour or $3,028 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.47
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 44 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 3,340
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $35,200 | $16.92 | |
| Median | $36,330 | $17.47 | |
| 75th | $38,880 | $18.69 | |
| 90th | $45,540 | $21.89 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers.
| San Jose, CA | $44,720 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,970 |
| Napa, CA | $39,080 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38,910 |
| Redding, CA | $38,770 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,760 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,330 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $36,810 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,440 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $36,360 |
| Sacramento, CA | $36,350 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $36,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,760 |
| Stockton, CA | $35,690 |
| Oxnard, CA | $35,490 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,350 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,260 |
| Chico, CA | $34,950 |
| Merced, CA | $34,720 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,560 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $17.47 ($36,330 a year).
Do food preparation and serving related workers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $36,330 against $35,840 nationally, 1% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,910, so San Diego pays 2% less.
Where does San Diego rank for food preparation and serving related worker pay?
44 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,540 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.