Food preparation worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$17.26 per hour

$35,890 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$15.09 per hour

$31,380 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$13.63 per hour

$28,360 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$11.19 per hour

$23,280 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$10.37 per hour

$21,570 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 8% less than similar careers in West Virginia. On average, they make less than food batchmakers but more than maitres d'.

Career Median Salary
Food batchmaker salary $35K
Dietetic technician salary $35K
Butcher salary $34K
Baker salary $28K
Restaurant cook salary $30K
Food preparation worker salary $28K
Barista salary $26K
Maitre d' salary $24K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)