How much does a food preparation worker make in Houston?
$35,020a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $16.84 an hour or $2,918 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.84
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 128 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 16,240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,250Median: $35,020Highest 10%: $41,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,250 | $11.18 | |
| 25th | $28,110 | $13.51 | |
| Median | $35,020 | $16.84 | |
| 75th | $37,790 | $18.17 | |
| 90th | $41,870 | $20.13 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 |
| Austin, TX | $34,880 |
| San Antonio, TX | $34,390 |
| College Station, TX | $34,380 |
| Midland, TX | $33,200 |
| Dallas, TX | $30,740 |
| Odessa, TX | $30,550 |
| Killeen, TX | $30,300 |
| Amarillo, TX | $29,160 |
| Beaumont, TX | $28,700 |
| Waco, TX | $28,690 |
| San Angelo, TX | $28,640 |
| Sherman, TX | $28,620 |
| Lubbock, TX | $28,550 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $28,430 |
| Abilene, TX | $28,250 |
| Tyler, TX | $28,150 |
| Laredo, TX | $27,780 |
| Victoria, TX | $27,680 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $27,390 |
| Texarkana, TX | $27,290 |
| McAllen, TX | $26,960 |
| Brownsville, TX | $26,180 |
| Longview, TX | $26,150 |
| El Paso, TX | $25,810 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $45,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,410 |
| Cook | $35,660 |
| Cook | $35,050 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $31,200 |
| Food Server | $29,050 |
| Dishwasher | $28,600 |
| Cook | $27,900 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,570 |
| Host and Hostess | $26,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $16.84 ($35,020 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Houston than the national average?
No: $35,020 against $35,320 nationally, 1% less.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $30,650, so Houston pays 14% more.
Where does Houston rank for food preparation worker pay?
128 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $41,870 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.