How much does a food preparation worker make in Portland?
$38,730a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area. That is $18.62 an hour or $3,228 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.62
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 20 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 6,870
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,070Median: $38,730Highest 10%: $50,280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,070 | $16.86 | |
| 25th | $36,800 | $17.69 | |
| Median | $38,730 | $18.62 | |
| 75th | $45,120 | $21.69 | |
| 90th | $50,280 | $24.17 |
Other cities in Oregon
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Bend, OR | $38,010 |
| Salem, OR | $37,300 |
| Corvallis, OR | $36,510 |
| Eugene, OR | $36,160 |
| Albany, OR | $35,860 |
| Medford, OR | $35,440 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $35,430 |
Related jobs in Portland
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,690 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $54,780 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,900 |
| Cook | $45,800 |
| Bartender | $45,590 |
| Cook | $45,200 |
| Cook | $44,340 |
| Host and Hostess | $43,410 |
| Cook | $38,810 |
| Cook | $38,580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Portland?
The median hourly pay in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $18.62 ($38,730 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Portland than the national average?
Yes: $38,730 against $35,320 nationally, 10% more.
How does Portland compare with the rest of Oregon?
The median in Oregon is $37,450, so Portland pays 3% more.
Where does Portland rank for food preparation worker pay?
20 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,280 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.