Food Preparation Worker salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker earns a median of $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $35,290. About 893,600 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $35,320
- Gross pay
- $1,358.46
- Federal income tax
- −$79.17
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.22
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.70
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,175.37
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,320
- Federal
- $2,058
- FICA
- $2,702
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,560
- 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 Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | $42,660 | 19,510 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | $41,350 | 3,970 |
| California | $39,350 | $41,480 | 112,750 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | $40,210 | 12,080 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | $41,030 | 13,620 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 | $41,670 | 5,950 |
| Oregon | $37,450 | $39,510 | 11,860 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 | $36,210 | 980 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 | $36,440 | 3,420 |
| Arizona | $36,750 | $37,810 | 16,590 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 | $39,290 | 12,250 |
| Vermont | $36,550 | $38,850 | 1,350 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 | $35,210 | 1,620 |
| Maine | $36,030 | $37,470 | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $35,930 | $36,360 | 2,400 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $35,210 | 73,100 |
| Alaska | $35,720 | $37,230 | 2,800 |
| New York | $35,610 | $38,310 | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $37,680 | 24,730 |
| Maryland | $35,500 | $37,090 | 13,280 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 | $37,910 | 2,830 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $33,970 | 26,450 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 | $34,880 | 6,890 |
| Virginia | $34,900 | $34,930 | 16,340 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $36,260 | 34,820 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $35,610 | 24,620 |
| Ohio | $34,530 | $34,560 | 19,480 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 | $34,000 | 17,990 |
| Montana | $33,860 | $33,700 | 2,990 |
| Utah | $33,540 | $34,580 | 10,530 |
| Nevada | $33,460 | $36,290 | 11,420 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 | $32,880 | 6,850 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 | $32,300 | 14,460 |
| Idaho | $31,510 | $32,380 | 4,670 |
| Missouri | $31,510 | $34,040 | 13,650 |
| Michigan | $31,180 | $32,720 | 17,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $31,880 | 17,940 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $32,120 | 81,280 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 | $31,630 | 3,270 |
| Iowa | $30,360 | $32,080 | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $30,280 | $31,460 | 7,680 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $31,270 | 24,960 |
| Indiana | $29,700 | $31,560 | 16,200 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $30,860 | 19,780 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 | $28,710 | 7,430 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 | $28,450 | 2,960 |
| Alabama | $27,930 | $28,460 | 17,680 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $29,460 | 5,500 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 | $28,760 | 15,390 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 | $26,750 | 7,870 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $25,580 | 30,920 |
Similar jobs
- Food Server: $35,360
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Cook: $35,880
- Bartender: $34,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Cook: $37,390
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-2021). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.98; the average is $16.96.
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Washington ($40,910 median), followed by District of Columbia and California.
What is the salary range for a food preparation worker?
The bottom 10% earn under $25,810 and the top 10% earn over $45,340 a year.
How much is $35,320 after taxes?
About $30,560 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $29,705 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.