How much does a food preparation worker make in San Francisco?
$41,000a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $19.71 an hour or $3,417 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.71
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 14,470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,600Median: $41,000Highest 10%: $54,270
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,600 | $17.60 | |
| 25th | $37,910 | $18.23 | |
| Median | $41,000 | $19.71 | |
| 75th | $46,700 | $22.45 | |
| 90th | $54,270 | $26.09 |
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 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 |
| 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 San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $68,970 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| Cook | $49,140 |
| Cook | $46,670 |
| Cook | $46,030 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Food Server | $44,710 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| Cook | $42,860 |
| Dishwasher | $42,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $19.71 ($41,000 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $41,000 against $35,320 nationally, 16% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so San Francisco pays 4% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for food preparation worker pay?
7 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,600 or less a year; the top 10% make $54,270 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.