Food Preparation Workers salary
Food Preparation Workers earn a median of $35,320 a year ($16.98/hr) in the U.S. – from $22,400 in Puerto Rico to $40,910 in Washington. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$16.98/hr · $35,320 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$25,810$12.41/hr
75% earn more$29,950$14.40/hr
half earn more, half less$35,320$16.98/hr
25% earn more$38,550$18.53/hr
top 10% earn more$45,340$21.80/hr
pulled up by top earners$35,290$16.96/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among food preparation workers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for food preparation workers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
19,510 jobs · $19.67/hr$40,910
3,970 jobs · $19.04/hr$39,600
112,750 jobs · $18.92/hr$39,350
12,080 jobs · $18.73/hr$38,960
13,620 jobs · $18.70/hr$38,900
5,950 jobs · $18.35/hr$38,160
11,860 jobs · $18.00/hr$37,450
980 jobs · $17.69/hr$36,800
3,420 jobs · $17.68/hr$36,780
16,590 jobs · $17.67/hr$36,750
12,250 jobs · $17.62/hr$36,650
1,350 jobs · $17.57/hr$36,550
1,620 jobs · $17.36/hr$36,110
4,560 jobs · $17.32/hr$36,030
2,400 jobs · $17.28/hr$35,930
73,100 jobs · $17.27/hr$35,920
2,800 jobs · $17.17/hr$35,720
62,380 jobs · $17.12/hr$35,610
24,730 jobs · $17.09/hr$35,540
13,280 jobs · $17.07/hr$35,500
2,830 jobs · $17.06/hr$35,470
26,450 jobs · $16.95/hr$35,250
6,890 jobs · $16.93/hr$35,210
16,340 jobs · $16.78/hr$34,900
34,820 jobs · $16.75/hr$34,850
24,620 jobs · $16.76/hr$34,850
19,480 jobs · $16.60/hr$34,530
17,990 jobs · $16.38/hr$34,070
2,990 jobs · $16.28/hr$33,860
10,530 jobs · $16.12/hr$33,540
11,420 jobs · $16.09/hr$33,460
6,850 jobs · $16.04/hr$33,370
14,460 jobs · $15.47/hr$32,180
4,670 jobs · $15.15/hr$31,510
13,650 jobs · $15.15/hr$31,510
17,380 jobs · $14.99/hr$31,180
17,940 jobs · $14.83/hr$30,840
81,280 jobs · $14.74/hr$30,650
3,270 jobs · $14.63/hr$30,430
4,170 jobs · $14.60/hr$30,360
7,680 jobs · $14.56/hr$30,280
24,960 jobs · $14.55/hr$30,260
16,200 jobs · $14.28/hr$29,700
19,780 jobs · $13.80/hr$28,700
7,430 jobs · $13.72/hr$28,540
2,960 jobs · $13.63/hr$28,360
17,680 jobs · $13.43/hr$27,930
5,500 jobs · $13.30/hr$27,660
15,390 jobs · $12.91/hr$26,850
7,870 jobs · $12.61/hr$26,240
30,920 jobs · $11.36/hr$23,620
4,130 jobs · $10.77/hr$22,400
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 35-2021. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do food preparation workers make?
The median wage for food preparation workers in the U.S. was $16.98 an hour or $35,320 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $29,950 and $38,550 a year.
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for food preparation workers: $40,910 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $22,400. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many food preparation workers are there?
BLS estimates 893,600 food preparation workers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.