How much does a food preparation worker make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $16.98 an hour or $2,943 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.98
- Average (mean)
- $35,290
- Jobs
- 893,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,810 | $12.41 | |
| 25th | $29,950 | $14.40 | |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 | |
| 75th | $38,550 | $18.53 | |
| 90th | $45,340 | $21.80 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 |
| Vermont | $36,550 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 |
| Maine | $36,030 |
| Delaware | $35,930 |
| Florida | $35,920 |
| Alaska | $35,720 |
| New York | $35,610 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 |
| Maryland | $35,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 |
| Georgia | $35,250 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 |
| Virginia | $34,900 |
| Illinois | $34,850 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 |
| Ohio | $34,530 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 |
| Montana | $33,860 |
| Utah | $33,540 |
| Nevada | $33,460 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 |
| Idaho | $31,510 |
| Missouri | $31,510 |
| Michigan | $31,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 |
| Texas | $30,650 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 |
| Iowa | $30,360 |
| Kansas | $30,280 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 |
| Indiana | $29,700 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 |
| Alabama | $27,930 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $46,680 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,580 |
| Seattle, WA | $43,830 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 |
| Yakima, WA | $41,750 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,000 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $40,140 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $40,030 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 |
| Boulder, CO | $39,690 |
| Boston, MA | $39,660 |
| Denver, CO | $39,470 |
| Bremerton, WA | $39,400 |
| Greeley, CO | $39,150 |
In other countries
Food Preparation Worker belongs to the international group "Kitchen helpers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $16.98 ($35,320 a year).
How much does a food preparation worker make a month?
About $2,943 a month before tax, based on a median of $35,320 a year.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,810 or less a year ($12.41 an hour); the top 10% make $45,340 or more.
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Washington, with a median of $40,910 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($39,600) and California ($39,350).
Which city pays food preparation workers the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $46,680 a year.
How many food preparation workers are there in the United States?
About 893,600 people work as food preparation workers.
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.