How much does a food preparation worker make in Los Angeles?
$39,770a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $19.12 an hour or $3,314 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.12
- Vs. national median
- +13%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 44,930
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,000Median: $39,770Highest 10%: $46,810
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,000 | $17.31 | |
| 25th | $37,500 | $18.03 | |
| Median | $39,770 | $19.12 | |
| 75th | $44,170 | $21.24 | |
| 90th | $46,810 | $22.50 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| San Jose, CA | $45,580 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,000 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,110 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,780 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,550 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,470 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 |
| Riverside, CA | $38,420 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,740 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,730 |
| Oxnard, CA | $37,680 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,550 |
| Chico, CA | $37,510 |
| Hanford, CA | $37,430 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,090 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,020 |
| Redding, CA | $36,400 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $69,990 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,970 |
| Cook | $45,400 |
| Cook | $44,460 |
| Cook | $43,680 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,110 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Food Server | $38,350 |
| Cook | $38,000 |
| Dishwasher | $37,580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $19.12 ($39,770 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $39,770 against $35,320 nationally, 13% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so Los Angeles pays 1% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for food preparation worker pay?
10 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,000 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,810 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.