Food Preparation Workers salary
Half of food preparation workers earned more than $35,320 a year in May 2025, and half earned less. The middle half earned between $29,950 and $38,550; the top 10% earned more than $45,340.
- Median / yr
- $35,320
- Median / hr
- $16.98
- Average (mean) / yr
- $35,290
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $25,810
- 25th percentile
- $29,950
- 75th percentile
- $38,550
- Top 10% earn over
- $45,340
- Jobs (wage & salary)
- 893,600
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national, all industries.
How does pay for food preparation workers compare?
- The median is 0.7 times the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations.
- It ranks 803rd of 825 occupations by median annual wage.
- The average (mean) wage is $35,290, below the median.
Occupations with similar pay
- Retail Salespersons — $35,410 (#800)
- Animal Caretakers — $35,360 (#801)
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,360 (#801)
- Physical Therapist Aides — $35,240 (#804)
- Waiters and Waitresses — $35,230 (#805)
- Parking Attendants — $35,150 (#806)
What does it take to become one?
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
“Typical” describes what most entrants need, as assessed by BLS. Licensing and certification rules vary by state and are not shown here.
Is the number of jobs growing?
BLS projects employment of food preparation workers to change by -3.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the +3.5% projected for all occupations. It expects about 135,700 openings a year on average, counting jobs left by people who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food preparation workers the most?
Washington has the highest published median, at $40,910. After adjusting for each state’s price level, the highest is North Dakota ($41,367 in national-average prices).
| State | Median | Adjusted for prices | Top 10% over | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | $38,229 | $51,730 | 19,510 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | $36,032 | $45,370 | 3,970 |
| California | $39,350 | $35,540 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | $37,806 | $49,000 | 12,080 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | $36,782 | $48,420 | 13,620 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 | $34,706 | $57,720 | 5,950 |
| Oregon | $37,450 | $36,232 | $48,580 | 11,860 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 | $41,367 | $43,840 | 980 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 | $35,309 | $45,980 | 3,420 |
| Arizona | $36,750 | $36,503 | $44,640 | 16,590 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 | $35,373 | $47,790 | 12,250 |
| Vermont | $36,550 | $37,312 | $49,020 | 1,350 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 | $38,957 | $46,590 | 1,620 |
| Maine | $36,030 | $37,125 | $46,400 | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $35,930 | $35,999 | $43,070 | 2,400 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $34,734 | $43,300 | 73,100 |
| Alaska | $35,720 | $34,897 | $46,440 | 2,800 |
| New York | $35,610 | $32,996 | $46,800 | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $32,664 | $46,070 | 24,730 |
| Maryland | $35,500 | $33,823 | $45,890 | 13,280 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 | $34,679 | $45,220 | 2,830 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $36,607 | $40,390 | 26,450 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 | $39,078 | $42,560 | 6,890 |
| Virginia | $34,900 | $34,519 | $42,480 | 16,340 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $34,865 | $44,990 | 34,820 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $35,337 | $45,790 | 24,620 |
| Ohio | $34,530 | $37,219 | $44,500 | 19,480 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 | $36,208 | $44,290 | 17,990 |
| Montana | $33,860 | $35,776 | $43,410 | 2,990 |
| Utah | $33,540 | $33,925 | $45,290 | 10,530 |
| Nevada | $33,460 | $33,467 | $50,600 | 11,420 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 | $36,188 | $38,200 | 6,850 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 | $34,326 | $40,370 | 14,460 |
| Idaho | $31,510 | $32,997 | $40,260 | 4,670 |
| Missouri | $31,510 | $34,696 | $44,440 | 13,650 |
| Michigan | $31,180 | $32,406 | $38,620 | 17,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $31,607 | $39,600 | 17,940 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $31,579 | $42,450 | 81,280 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 | $34,351 | $38,580 | 3,270 |
| Iowa | $30,360 | $34,594 | $40,250 | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $30,280 | $33,619 | $39,220 | 7,680 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $32,080 | $38,760 | 24,960 |
| Indiana | $29,700 | $31,823 | $39,050 | 16,200 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $31,240 | $39,660 | 19,780 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 | $32,490 | $35,980 | 7,430 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 | $31,688 | $35,890 | 2,960 |
| Alabama | $27,930 | $31,445 | $37,580 | 17,680 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $31,816 | $36,260 | 5,500 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 | $29,781 | $37,830 | 15,390 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 | $30,177 | $36,100 | 7,870 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $26,778 | $34,190 | 30,920 |
Adjusted figures divide each state’s median by its 2024 regional price parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S. = 100), the latest available. “≥ $239,200” means BLS reports the value only as $239,200 a year ($115.00 an hour) or more; those rows are placed at that lower bound and cannot be adjusted for prices. Dashes mean BLS did not publish an estimate.
What these numbers include
- Wages are straight-time gross pay reported by employers: base pay, commissions, production bonuses, tips and similar pay are included; overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits are not.
- Only employees are counted. Self-employed workers and owners of unincorporated businesses are not in the survey.
- Figures cover all industries nationwide. Pay for a single employer, city or experience level can differ widely.
Related rankings
- Highest-paying jobs without a degree
- Highest-paying jobs outside healthcare
- Ranking for “No formal educational credential”
- All 825 occupations ranked
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national and state files).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024.