How much does a food preparation worker make in Santa Maria?
$38,470a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $18.50 an hour or $3,206 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.50
- Vs. national median
- +9%
- Rank among cities
- 26 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,490
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,840Median: $38,470Highest 10%: $48,690
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,840 | $16.75 | |
| 25th | $36,110 | $17.36 | |
| Median | $38,470 | $18.50 | |
| 75th | $43,550 | $20.94 | |
| 90th | $48,690 | $23.41 |
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 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,780 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,550 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 |
| 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 Santa Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,060 |
| Cook | $48,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,320 |
| Cook | $43,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,940 |
| Cook | $42,700 |
| Food Server | $38,740 |
| Cook | $38,340 |
| Dishwasher | $37,290 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $36,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $18.50 ($38,470 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $38,470 against $35,320 nationally, 9% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so Santa Maria pays 2% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for food preparation worker pay?
26 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,840 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,690 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.