How much does a food preparation worker make in Olympia?
$37,950a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area. That is $18.25 an hour or $3,163 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.25
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 35 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 680
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,770Median: $37,950Highest 10%: $48,390
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,770 | $16.72 | |
| 25th | $35,400 | $17.02 | |
| Median | $37,950 | $18.25 | |
| 75th | $45,690 | $21.97 | |
| 90th | $48,390 | $23.26 |
Other cities in Washington
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Seattle, WA | $43,830 |
| Yakima, WA | $41,750 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $40,030 |
| Bremerton, WA | $39,400 |
| Portland, OR | $38,730 |
| Longview, WA | $38,460 |
| Kennewick, WA | $38,390 |
| Bellingham, WA | $38,240 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $37,740 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $36,580 |
| Spokane, WA | $36,360 |
| Lewiston, ID | $35,780 |
Related jobs in Olympia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,270 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $54,200 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $53,000 |
| Bartender | $50,180 |
| Cook | $48,820 |
| Cook | $44,960 |
| Food Server | $37,540 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $37,320 |
| Dishwasher | $37,070 |
| Cook | $36,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Olympia?
The median hourly pay in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $18.25 ($37,950 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Olympia than the national average?
Yes: $37,950 against $35,320 nationally, 7% more.
How does Olympia compare with the rest of Washington?
The median in Washington is $40,910, so Olympia pays 7% less.
Where does Olympia rank for food preparation worker pay?
35 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Olympia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,390 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.