Research Summary. After thorough research conducted by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest information on prep cook salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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Washington boasts the highest prep cook salary at $40,515
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Mississippi ranks lowest, with a prep cook salary of $21,322
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The national average salary for prep cooks stands at $32,292
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The national hourly wage for prep cooks is $15.53
For more details, check out our specific methodology.
Background
In job satisfaction surveys, salary consistently ranks as the top priority for most individuals. Many potential prep cooks wonder: how does pay compare in my area?
While various factors influence individual earnings, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for prep cooks across states, segmented by experience levels. Although local salaries may vary slightly, these state averages offer a reliable benchmark for expected earnings.
As of now, Washington leads in offering the best salaries for prep cooks.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for prep cook salaries:
Let’s delve into the full rankings of all states.
Highest-Paid Prep Cooks By State
| Rank | State | Average Prep Cook Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,515 | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | California | $37,212 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $36,736 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $36,658 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 5 | Oregon | $36,575 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $35,703 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | New York | $35,498 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $34,856 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $34,360 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $34,022 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 11 | Illinois | $33,836 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 12 | Colorado | $33,723 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $33,420 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 14 | Alaska | $33,302 | $28,000 | $39,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $33,295 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 16 | Idaho | $32,433 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $32,232 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 18 | Nevada | $31,991 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $31,968 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 20 | Maine | $31,755 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,755 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 22 | Delaware | $31,626 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 23 | Utah | $31,400 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 24 | Maryland | $31,077 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $30,748 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $30,620 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $30,174 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $30,145 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 29 | Michigan | $29,332 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 30 | Montana | $29,137 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 31 | Indiana | $29,105 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 32 | Virginia | $28,692 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $28,444 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $28,396 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 35 | Missouri | $28,141 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 36 | Iowa | $28,116 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $28,070 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 38 | Kansas | $27,920 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $27,042 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $26,603 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $26,488 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 42 | Texas | $26,261 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $26,153 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $25,933 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $25,755 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $25,128 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,975 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $23,766 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $22,487 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,322 | $16,000 | $27,000 |
Methodology: Prep Cook Salary By State
To analyze prep cook salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, and integrated it with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average from these sources to determine the average pay for prep cooks in each state.
We ranked states based on these average annual salaries, identifying the state with the highest salary as the leader in prep cook compensation.
Prep Cook Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for prep cooks?
The highest-paid state for prep cooks is Washington, with an average salary of $40,515 per year.
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What city pays prep cooks the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest pay for prep cooks, averaging $40,582 per year.
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What is the worst state for prep cooks?
The lowest-paying state for prep cooks is Mississippi, with an average salary of $21,322 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.
