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Food prep salary
Average food prep salary
$12.42
Average Food Prep Salary
The average salary for food preparation workers is approximately $25,840 annually or $12.42 per hour. Factors such as experience, skill level, and geographic location can significantly influence these figures. For example, food preparers in states like California and New York often earn higher wages compared to those in other regions.
Job Opportunities
Food prep roles are available in a variety of settings, including restaurants, cafeterias, and catering companies. Entry-level positions typically require minimal experience, making it an accessible entry point for new job seekers. As you gain experience, opportunities for advancement into supervisory roles or specialized culinary positions can arise.
Salary Variations by State
Understanding state-specific salary data can help you target your job search effectively. For instance, the highest-paying states for food prep jobs include California, Washington, and Massachusetts. By focusing your job search in these areas, you can maximize your earning potential.
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Where can a Food Prep earn more?
Food prep salary estimates from across the web
Average food prep salary by state
The average food prep salary in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food prep salary states are Florida, Alaska, and West Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food preps
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $28,993 | $13.94 |
| 2 | Maine | $29,298 | $14.09 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $32,244 | $15.50 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $25,116 | $12.07 |
| 5 | Washington | $27,496 | $13.22 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $29,604 | $14.23 |
| 7 | Texas | $25,557 | $12.29 |
| 8 | Vermont | $30,421 | $14.63 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $27,681 | $13.31 |
| 10 | New York | $28,149 | $13.53 |
| 11 | Utah | $24,595 | $11.82 |
| 12 | Kansas | $23,807 | $11.45 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $27,708 | $13.32 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $22,897 | $11.01 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $23,140 | $11.13 |
| 16 | Indiana | $22,896 | $11.01 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $24,441 | $11.75 |
| 18 | Arizona | $24,177 | $11.62 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $23,681 | $11.39 |
| 20 | California | $27,426 | $13.19 |
| 21 | Idaho | $24,974 | $12.01 |
| 22 | Illinois | $24,943 | $11.99 |
| 23 | Colorado | $25,702 | $12.36 |
| 24 | Maryland | $26,979 | $12.97 |
| 25 | Oregon | $25,782 | $12.40 |
| 26 | Ohio | $22,622 | $10.88 |
| 27 | Missouri | $24,267 | $11.67 |
| 28 | Michigan | $22,305 | $10.72 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $22,965 | $11.04 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $26,835 | $12.90 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $22,049 | $10.60 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $24,223 | $11.65 |
| 33 | Georgia | $22,797 | $10.96 |
| 34 | Alabama | $22,590 | $10.86 |
| 35 | Alaska | $20,946 | $10.07 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $21,826 | $10.49 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $23,442 | $11.27 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $22,831 | $10.98 |
| 39 | Iowa | $22,424 | $10.78 |
| 40 | Delaware | $22,261 | $10.70 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $22,040 | $10.60 |
| 42 | Florida | $21,061 | $10.13 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $20,572 | $9.89 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $20,936 | $10.07 |
| 45 | Nevada | $21,988 | $10.57 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $20,803 | $10.00 |
| 47 | Montana | $22,304 | $10.72 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $21,065 | $10.13 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $20,435 | $9.82 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $22,914 | $11.02 |
| 51 | Virginia | $21,397 | $10.29 |
Highest paying cities for food preps
The highest-paying cities for food preps are Boston, MA, Hackensack, NJ, and Portland, ME.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $32,273 | $15.52 |
| 2 | Hackensack, NJ | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| 3 | Portland, ME | $29,268 | $14.07 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $29,015 | $13.95 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $27,492 | $13.22 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $27,465 | $13.20 |
| 7 | Columbia, MD | $26,965 | $12.96 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $25,689 | $12.35 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $25,673 | $12.34 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $25,587 | $12.30 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $25,006 | $12.02 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24,640 | $11.85 |
| 13 | Columbia, MO | $24,318 | $11.69 |
| 14 | Rochester, MN | $24,177 | $11.62 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $24,134 | $11.60 |
| 16 | Fargo, ND | $22,936 | $11.03 |
| 17 | Columbia, TN | $22,914 | $11.02 |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $22,876 | $11.00 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $22,821 | $10.97 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $22,322 | $10.73 |
Food Preps are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Food prep salary details
A food prep's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $35,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food prep's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| Average | $25,840 | $2,153 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
Highest paying food prep jobs
The highest paying types of food preps are associate food scientist, grill cook/prep, and food handler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | $31,687 | $2,641 | $15.23 | 126,351 |
| Line Server | $28,300 | $2,358 | $13.61 | 246,165 |
| Mexican Food Cook | $31,039 | $2,587 | $14.92 | 275,588 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Prep Cook | $32,292 | $2,691 | $15.53 | 168,265 |
Top companies hiring food preps now:
Which companies pay food preps the most?
Food prep salaries at Grand Ledge High School and Target are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food prep salary at companies like Brigham and Women's Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Ledge High School | $38,798 | $18.65 |
| 2 | Target | $36,762 | $17.67 |
| 3 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $35,177 | $16.91 |
| 4 | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital | $34,201 | $16.44 |
| 5 | Bertucci's | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 6 | DoorDash | $33,107 | $15.92 |
| 7 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $32,865 | $15.80 |
| 8 | P&S Surgical Hospital | $32,636 | $15.69 |
| 9 | Mercy Corps | $32,479 | $15.61 |
| 10 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $32,351 | $15.55 |
| 11 | FirstEnergy | $32,179 | $15.47 |
| 12 | PCC Community Markets | $32,068 | $15.42 |
| 13 | NBCUniversal | $31,959 | $15.36 |
| 14 | Compass Group USA | $31,829 | $15.30 |
| 15 | Nordstrom | $31,821 | $15.30 |
| 16 | The Field Museum | $31,818 | $15.30 |
| 17 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $31,816 | $15.30 |
| 18 | BayCare Health System | $31,728 | $15.25 |
| 19 | UC Health | $31,698 | $15.24 |
| 20 | Trinity Health | $31,693 | $15.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food prep salary trends
The average food prep salary has risen by $5,839 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food prep earned $20,001 annually, but today, they earn $25,840 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for food preps over the last decade.
Compare food prep salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food prep salary over time
Compare food prep salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food prep salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,800 | $12.42 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $24,600 | $11.84 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $23,300 | $11.21 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $22,100 | $10.64 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $21,300 | $10.25 | +2.7% |
Recently added food prep salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dibella's Subs | Restaurant Food Prep | Fine, NY | 06/30/2025 | $33,392 |
| State of Illinois | Corrections Food Service Supv I | Crest Hill, IL | 06/30/2025 | $65,004 |
| Petroleum Services Corp | Food Service | Platteville, CO | 06/29/2025 | $30,262 |
| Broward County Public Schools | Substitute Food Service (Temporary) Job Details | Broward County Public Schools | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Olathe Public Schools | Food Services Staff-Olathe Northwest, Daily | Olathe, KS | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches | Food Prep | Tempe, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $28,488 |
| Connecticut Reap | Food Service Position | Milford, CT | 06/29/2025 | $34,561 |
| Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches | Food Prep | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $28,488 |
| Kwik Trip, Inc. | Food Service | Watertown, WI | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Hamilton Township School District (Atlantic County | Food Services | Noble, LA | 06/28/2025 | $33,288 |
Food prep salary FAQs
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