Food preparation worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$21.39 per hour

$44,500 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$18.30 per hour

$38,070 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$16.60 per hour

$34,530 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$13.91 per hour

$28,930 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$12.81 per hour

$26,640 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Food preparation worker salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $40,910
District of Columbia $39,600
California $39,350
Colorado $38,960
Massachusetts $38,900
Hawaii $38,160
Oregon $37,450
North Dakota $36,800
New Hampshire $36,780
Arizona $36,750
Connecticut $36,650
Vermont $36,550
Wyoming $36,110
Maine $36,030
Delaware $35,930
Florida $35,920
Alaska $35,720
New York $35,610
New Jersey $35,540
Maryland $35,500
Rhode Island $35,470
Georgia $35,250
Nebraska $35,210
Virginia $34,900
Illinois $34,850
Minnesota $34,850
Ohio $34,530
Wisconsin $34,070
Montana $33,860
Utah $33,540
Nevada $33,460
New Mexico $33,370
South Carolina $32,180
Idaho $31,510
Missouri $31,510
Michigan $31,180
Pennsylvania $30,840
Texas $30,650
South Dakota $30,430
Iowa $30,360
Kansas $30,280
North Carolina $30,260
Indiana $29,700
Virgin Islands, U.S. $29,650
Tennessee $28,700
Oklahoma $28,540
West Virginia $28,360
Alabama $27,930
Arkansas $27,660
Kentucky $26,850
Mississippi $26,240
Louisiana $23,620
Guam $20,150
Puerto Rico $18,090

How do food preparation worker salaries compare to similar careers?

Food preparation workers earn about the same as related careers in Ohio. On average, they make less than dietetic technicians but more than baristas.

Career Median Salary
Dietetic technician salary $41K
Food server salary $37K
Bartender salary $31K
Butcher salary $38K
Restaurant cook salary $36K
Food preparation worker salary $35K
Baker salary $35K
Maitre d' salary $28K
Barista salary $28K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)