Food Preparation Worker Salary

Updated November 9, 2026

The median food preparation worker in the U.S. earns $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour). Half earn between $29,950 and $38,550. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in San Jose, CA ($45,580) and lowest in Memphis, TN ($27,290).

Median $35,320

10th: $25,81090th: $45,340

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.

Food Preparation Workers, May 2025.
Annual pay	U.S.
10th percentile	$25,810
25th percentile	$29,950
Median	$35,320
75th percentile	$38,550
90th percentile	$45,340
Average	$35,290
Jobs	893,600

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Food preparation worker pay by city

Median annual pay, May 2025, by metro area. Compared with the U.S. median ($35,320).
City	Median	vs U.S.
San Jose, CA	$45,580	+29%
Seattle, WA	$43,830	+24%
San Francisco, CA	$41,000	+16%
Los Angeles, CA	$39,770	+13%
Boston, MA	$39,660	+12%
Denver, CO	$39,470	+12%
San Diego, CA	$38,780	+10%
Portland, OR	$38,730	+10%
Sacramento, CA	$38,480	+9%
Riverside, CA	$38,420	+9%
Washington, DC	$37,630	+7%
Phoenix, AZ	$37,580	+6%
Columbus, OH	$36,930	+5%
Jacksonville, FL	$36,730	+4%
Tampa, FL	$36,330	+3%
Providence, RI	$36,250	+3%
Atlanta, GA	$36,090	+2%
Miami, FL	$36,090	+2%
Hartford, CT	$35,860	+2%
New York, NY	$35,670	+1%
Orlando, FL	$35,600	+1%
Milwaukee, WI	$35,470	same
Chicago, IL	$35,410	same
Cleveland, OH	$35,360	same
Minneapolis, MN	$35,100	−1%
Baltimore, MD	$35,080	−1%
Houston, TX	$35,020	−1%
Austin, TX	$34,880	−1%
Buffalo, NY	$34,700	−2%
Nashville, TN	$34,640	−2%
Philadelphia, PA	$34,560	−2%
San Antonio, TX	$34,390	−3%
Cincinnati, OH	$34,320	−3%
Charlotte, NC	$34,180	−3%
Las Vegas, NV	$33,870	−4%
Richmond, VA	$33,650	−5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$33,370	−6%
Detroit, MI	$33,060	−6%
Virginia Beach, VA	$32,580	−8%
St. Louis, MO	$32,400	−8%
Kansas City, MO	$32,230	−9%
Grand Rapids, MI	$31,920	−10%
Dallas, TX	$30,740	−13%
Indianapolis, IN	$30,490	−14%
Oklahoma City, OK	$30,160	−15%
Pittsburgh, PA	$30,120	−15%
Louisville, KY	$29,640	−16%
Raleigh, NC	$29,470	−17%
Birmingham, AL	$29,260	−17%
Memphis, TN	$27,290	−23%

Similar jobs

Restaurant Cook: $37,390
Fast Food Worker: $31,200
Waiter: $35,230
Food Service Supervisor: $44,080
Bartender: $34,340

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.