California Median
$39,350
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.92
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+11% vs US median
US median $35,320
State Rank
#3 of 51
112,750 employed here
How much does a Food Preparation Worker make in California?
Food Preparation Workers in California take home a median of $39,350 annually — roughly $18.92 an hour — which runs 11% above the national median of $35,320.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,190 while the top 10% make $48,470 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,010 and $44,540 a year.
Food Preparation Worker salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,190 | $16.92 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,010 | $17.79 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,350 | $18.92 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $44,540 | $21.41 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,470 | $23.30 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Food Preparation Worker pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Food Preparation Worker salary in other states
Washington $40,910District of Columbia $39,600Colorado $38,960Massachusetts $38,900Hawaii $38,160Oregon $37,450North Dakota $36,800New Hampshire $36,780Arizona $36,750Connecticut $36,650Vermont $36,550Wyoming $36,110Maine $36,030Delaware $35,930Florida $35,920Alaska $35,720New York $35,610New Jersey $35,540Maryland $35,500Rhode Island $35,470Georgia $35,250Nebraska $35,210Virginia $34,900Illinois $34,850Minnesota $34,850Ohio $34,530Wisconsin $34,070Montana $33,860Utah $33,540Nevada $33,460New Mexico $33,370South Carolina $32,180Idaho $31,510Missouri $31,510Michigan $31,180Pennsylvania $30,840Texas $30,650South Dakota $30,430Iowa $30,360Kansas $30,280North Carolina $30,260Indiana $29,700Tennessee $28,700Oklahoma $28,540West Virginia $28,360Alabama $27,930Arkansas $27,660Kentucky $26,850Mississippi $26,240Louisiana $23,620
Working as a Food Preparation Worker in California
Nationally, about 894,000 people work as Food Preparation Workers in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($39,350) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food Preparation Worker make in California?
The median Food Preparation Worker salary in California is $39,350 per year, or about $18.92 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,190 at the entry level to $48,470 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Food Preparation Workers about 11% more than the national median of $35,320. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Food Preparation Workers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $39,350 a year. About 112,750 Food Preparation Workers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Food Preparation Worker salary report
Related salaries
$33,980
median pay · 543,000 employed
$37,450
median pay · 441,000 employed
$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 433,000 employed
$37,690
median pay · 19,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.