How much does a food preparation worker make in San Diego?
$38,780a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $18.64 an hour or $3,232 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.64
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 19 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 9,360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,820Median: $38,780Highest 10%: $47,410
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,820 | $17.22 | |
| 25th | $37,190 | $17.88 | |
| Median | $38,780 | $18.64 | |
| 75th | $43,780 | $21.05 | |
| 90th | $47,410 | $22.79 |
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 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,110 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 |
| 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 San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
| Cook | $37,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $18.64 ($38,780 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $38,780 against $35,320 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for food preparation worker pay?
19 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,410 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.