How much does a food preparation worker make in San Jose?
$45,580a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $21.91 an hour or $3,798 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.91
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 5,930
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,340Median: $45,580Highest 10%: $55,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,340 | $17.95 | |
| 25th | $39,960 | $19.21 | |
| Median | $45,580 | $21.91 | |
| 75th | $47,890 | $23.02 | |
| 90th | $55,550 | $26.71 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| 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 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Food Server | $46,210 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $21.91 ($45,580 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $45,580 against $35,320 nationally, 29% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so San Jose pays 16% more.
Where does San Jose rank for food preparation worker pay?
2 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $55,550 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.