Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation and serving related worker earns a median of $35,840 a year ($17.23 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $36,810. About 84,630 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $35,840
- Gross pay
- $1,378.46
- Federal income tax
- −$81.57
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$85.46
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.99
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,191.44
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,840
- Federal
- $2,121
- FICA
- $2,742
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,977
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $46,170 | $47,320 | — |
| Hawaii | $43,540 | $52,740 | 410 |
| Oregon | $39,080 | $42,740 | 600 |
| Illinois | $38,880 | $40,720 | 2,720 |
| District of Columbia | $38,580 | $45,100 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $38,210 | $38,430 | 370 |
| Indiana | $38,160 | $33,090 | — |
| Arizona | $37,600 | $40,340 | 1,060 |
| Maryland | $37,500 | $38,760 | 3,540 |
| Utah | $37,180 | $38,550 | 290 |
| California | $36,910 | $41,370 | 30,730 |
| Tennessee | $36,640 | $34,450 | 2,670 |
| Connecticut | $36,320 | $38,500 | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $36,290 | $38,600 | 3,780 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | $35,680 | 130 |
| Virginia | $35,870 | $36,130 | 1,390 |
| Colorado | $35,710 | $37,870 | 2,970 |
| Massachusetts | $35,300 | $36,210 | — |
| Michigan | $35,100 | $36,120 | 530 |
| Washington | $34,650 | $36,630 | — |
| New York | $34,340 | $41,440 | 380 |
| Florida | $34,200 | $35,030 | 3,900 |
| Delaware | $33,840 | $33,710 | — |
| Iowa | $33,480 | $33,520 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,040 | $33,380 | 730 |
| Vermont | $32,420 | $34,820 | 120 |
| Wyoming | $31,840 | $34,070 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $31,660 | $36,740 | 430 |
| Nevada | $31,510 | $37,440 | 1,140 |
| Wisconsin | $31,240 | $31,390 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $31,200 | $31,790 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $45,130 | — |
| Mississippi | $30,600 | $30,530 | 810 |
| Texas | $30,210 | $32,030 | 4,030 |
| North Carolina | $30,160 | $31,450 | 4,670 |
| Montana | $29,720 | $31,500 | 470 |
| Missouri | $28,600 | $34,690 | — |
| Ohio | $27,540 | $28,770 | 3,260 |
| Georgia | $25,740 | $27,610 | 3,130 |
| North Dakota | $23,410 | $28,740 | — |
| Alabama | $22,990 | $25,270 | — |
| South Carolina | $22,230 | $25,100 | 850 |
| Louisiana | $21,820 | $25,560 | 3,670 |
| West Virginia | $21,640 | $30,790 | 70 |
Similar jobs
- Cook: $35,880
- Food Server: $35,360
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Bartender: $34,340
- Cook: $37,390
- Cook: $37,450
BLS occupation: Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-9099). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $17.23; the average is $17.70.
Which state pays food preparation and serving related workers the most?
Nebraska ($46,170 median), followed by Hawaii and Oregon.
What is the salary range for a food preparation and serving related worker?
The bottom 10% earn under $25,470 and the top 10% earn over $47,550 a year.
How much is $35,840 after taxes?
About $30,977 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $30,095 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.