Median Salary
$35,320
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$45,340
entry level starts ~$25,810
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 894,000 employed
How much does a Food Preparation Worker make?
A Food Preparation Worker earns a median annual salary of $35,320 in the United States, which works out to roughly $16.98 per hour for full-time work. Most Food Preparation Workers earn between $25,810 at the entry level and $45,340 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $29,950 and $38,550 a year.
That is $26,070 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Food Preparation Worker salary range by percentile
Half of all Food Preparation Workers earn between $29,950 and $38,550 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $29,950 | $14.40 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,320 | $16.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $38,550 | $18.53 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,340 | $21.80 |
|
Highest-paying states for Food Preparation Worker
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Food Preparation Worker pay at $40,910 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($39,600) and California ($39,350). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $23,620 — a gap of $17,290 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Food Preparation Worker salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $40,910District of Columbia $39,600California $39,350Colorado $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
Workforce and education
About 894,000 people work as Food Preparation Workers in the United States. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food Preparation Worker make in the United States?
The median Food Preparation Worker salary in the United States is $35,320 per year, or about $16.98 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $25,810, while the top 10% of earners make $45,340 or more.
How does Food Preparation Worker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Food Preparation Worker median of $35,320 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Food Preparation Workers the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Food Preparation Workers, with a median salary of $40,910 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Food Preparation Worker?
Becoming a Food Preparation Worker typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Food Preparation Workers work in the United States?
About 894,000 people were employed as Food Preparation Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.