Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of food prep salary by state for the United States:
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Massachusetts has the highest food prep salary of $32,244
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Wyoming has the lowest food prep salary of $20,435
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The national average salary for food preps is $25,840
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The national hourly pay for food preps is $12.42
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
When considering a job, salary remains a paramount concern for most individuals. Understanding how much food preps earn in your area is essential for making informed career decisions.
While various factors can influence your specific salary expectations, comprehensive data exists on average salaries for food prep positions across the United States, segmented by seniority level. These averages provide a solid foundation for understanding potential earnings in your region.
Currently, Massachusetts tops the list as the state offering the highest average salary for food preps.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for food prep salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a deeper look into the highest-paying states for food prep roles and a complete ranking.
Highest-Paid Food Preps By State
| Rank | State | Average Food Prep Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $32,244 | $26,000 | $39,000 |
| 2 | Vermont | $30,421 | $25,000 | $36,000 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $29,604 | $24,000 | $35,000 |
| 4 | Maine | $29,298 | $24,000 | $34,000 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $28,993 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 6 | New York | $28,149 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $27,708 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $27,681 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $27,496 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 10 | California | $27,426 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $26,979 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $25,782 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 13 | Colorado | $25,702 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 14 | Texas | $25,557 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $25,116 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 16 | Idaho | $24,974 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 17 | Illinois | $24,943 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 18 | Utah | $24,595 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $24,441 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 20 | Missouri | $24,267 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $24,223 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 22 | Arizona | $24,177 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 23 | Kansas | $23,807 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $23,681 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $23,442 | $17,000 | $31,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $23,140 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $22,965 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $22,914 | $20,000 | $26,000 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $22,897 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 30 | Indiana | $22,896 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $22,831 | $17,000 | $29,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $22,797 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $22,622 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 34 | Alabama | $22,590 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $22,424 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 36 | Michigan | $22,305 | $17,000 | $29,000 |
| 37 | Montana | $22,304 | $17,000 | $29,000 |
| 38 | Delaware | $22,261 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $22,049 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $22,040 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 41 | Nevada | $21,988 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $21,826 | $16,000 | $28,000 |
| 43 | Virginia | $21,397 | $15,000 | $29,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $21,065 | $14,000 | $29,000 |
| 45 | Florida | $21,061 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Alaska | $20,946 | $19,000 | $23,000 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $20,936 | $15,000 | $28,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $20,803 | $14,000 | $29,000 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $20,572 | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $20,435 | $15,000 | $27,000 |
Methodology: Food Prep Salary By State
To provide an accurate picture of food prep salaries by state, Zippia has consolidated data from multiple reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then computes a weighted average to establish average salaries for food preps across various states.
This analysis ranks each state based on the average annual salary for food preps, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of where food prep professionals can earn the most.
Food Prep Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for food preps?
The highest-paid state for food preps is Massachusetts with an average salary of $32,244 per year.
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What city pays food preps the most?
Boston, MA pays food preps the most with an average salary of $32,273 per year.
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What is the worst state for food preps?
The worst state for food preps is Wyoming with an average salary of $20,435 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
