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Food preparation worker salary
Average food preparation worker salary
$12.02
Understanding Food Preparation Worker Salaries
The role of a Food Preparation Worker is essential in various settings, including restaurants, cafeterias, and catering services. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $25,004 per year, or about $12 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific responsibilities.
Salary Variation by State
Locations such as California and New York often offer some of the highest wages for food preparation workers, where salaries can exceed $30,000 annually. Conversely, states with a lower cost of living may have average salaries closer to $22,000.
Impact of Experience
Experience also plays a critical role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start at minimum wage, while those with several years in the industry can command higher rates, sometimes reaching $15 per hour or more.
Exploring Job Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a food preparation worker, resources like Zippia provide insights into job availability, salary ranges, and potential career paths. By leveraging this information, job seekers can make informed decisions about their careers in food service.
Let Zippia find your next food preparation worker job
Let Zippia find your next food preparation worker job
Where can a Food Preparation Worker earn more?
Food preparation worker salaries by experience level
Food preparation worker salary estimates from across the web
Average food preparation worker salary by state
The average food preparation worker salary in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food preparation worker salary states are New Mexico, Mississippi, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food preparation workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $33,405 | $16.06 |
| 2 | Colorado | $32,264 | $15.51 |
| 3 | Maine | $34,601 | $16.64 |
| 4 | Washington | $29,269 | $14.07 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $29,097 | $13.99 |
| 6 | Utah | $28,295 | $13.60 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $35,697 | $17.16 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $29,129 | $14.00 |
| 9 | Vermont | $33,437 | $16.08 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,724 | $17.18 |
| 11 | Florida | $26,374 | $12.68 |
| 12 | Michigan | $27,563 | $13.25 |
| 13 | California | $29,543 | $14.20 |
| 14 | Arizona | $28,648 | $13.77 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $23,878 | $11.48 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $24,196 | $11.63 |
| 17 | Iowa | $25,661 | $12.34 |
| 18 | Alaska | $26,948 | $12.96 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $28,681 | $13.79 |
| 20 | Oregon | $24,871 | $11.96 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $25,571 | $12.29 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $23,412 | $11.26 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $28,828 | $13.86 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $25,373 | $12.20 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $24,358 | $11.71 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $22,245 | $10.69 |
| 27 | Illinois | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 28 | Delaware | $23,907 | $11.49 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $21,507 | $10.34 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $24,874 | $11.96 |
| 31 | Texas | $22,999 | $11.06 |
| 32 | Indiana | $23,223 | $11.16 |
| 33 | Virginia | $23,628 | $11.36 |
| 34 | Montana | $23,502 | $11.30 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $23,254 | $11.18 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $22,539 | $10.84 |
| 37 | Georgia | $22,044 | $10.60 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $21,210 | $10.20 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $21,829 | $10.49 |
| 40 | Ohio | $22,995 | $11.06 |
| 41 | Maryland | $24,404 | $11.73 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $25,219 | $12.12 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $19,498 | $9.37 |
| 44 | Missouri | $20,664 | $9.93 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $19,322 | $9.29 |
| 46 | Nevada | $21,585 | $10.38 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $20,497 | $9.85 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $20,342 | $9.78 |
| 49 | Alabama | $19,900 | $9.57 |
| 50 | Kansas | $20,722 | $9.96 |
| 51 | Idaho | $19,335 | $9.30 |
Highest paying cities for food preparation workers
The highest-paying cities for food preparation workers are Rochester, NY, Rohnert Park, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $34,721 | $16.69 |
| 2 | Rohnert Park, CA | $29,612 | $14.24 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 4 | Ann Arbor, MI | $27,303 | $13.13 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $26,387 | $12.69 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $25,869 | $12.44 |
| 7 | Bentonville, AR | $24,386 | $11.72 |
| 8 | Rockville, MD | $24,357 | $11.71 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $23,857 | $11.47 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $23,445 | $11.27 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $23,012 | $11.06 |
| 12 | Troy, OH | $22,716 | $10.92 |
| 13 | Greenville, SC | $22,289 | $10.72 |
| 14 | Duluth, GA | $22,068 | $10.61 |
Food preparation worker salary details
A food preparation worker's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food preparation worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| Average | $25,004 | $2,084 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Highest paying food preparation worker jobs
The highest paying types of food preparation workers are deli clerk, catering assistant, and seafood clerk.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Bakery Clerk | $28,651 | $2,388 | $13.77 | 67,778 |
| Deli Clerk | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 69,311 |
| Sandwich Artist | $23,564 | $1,964 | $11.33 | 7,813 |
| Kitchen Helper | $25,796 | $2,150 | $12.40 | 80,202 |
| Seafood Clerk | $31,941 | $2,662 | $15.36 | 66,540 |
Top companies hiring food preparation workers now:
Which companies pay food preparation workers the most?
Food preparation worker salaries at University of California, Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food preparation worker salary at companies like University of California and Glad are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $39,794 | $19.13 |
| 2 | UC Santa Barbara | $36,905 | $17.74 |
| 3 | University of California | $34,745 | $16.70 |
| 4 | Glad | $34,118 | $16.40 |
| 5 | Westhampton Country Club | $31,815 | $15.30 |
| 6 | Hyatt Hotels | $31,577 | $15.18 |
| 7 | Wegmans Food Markets | $30,572 | $14.70 |
| 8 | Compass Group USA | $29,837 | $14.34 |
| 9 | Quidnessett Country Club Est | $29,793 | $14.32 |
| 10 | La Casa del Zorro | $29,394 | $14.13 |
| 11 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 12 | Grand Hotel | $28,999 | $13.94 |
| 13 | TPI | $28,087 | $13.50 |
| 14 | La Ronde Beach Club | $27,761 | $13.35 |
| 15 | ManpowerGroup | $27,704 | $13.32 |
| 16 | PeopleReady | $27,498 | $13.22 |
| 17 | University of Michigan | $27,435 | $13.19 |
| 18 | Waldbaums | $27,373 | $13.16 |
| 19 | Sapa Profiles Inc | $27,299 | $13.12 |
| 20 | Gurney's Montauk Resort And Seawater Spa | $27,296 | $13.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food Preparation Worker salary by industry
The average food preparation worker salary varies across industries:
- The average food preparation worker salary in the retail industry is $26,969, the highest of any industry.
- The average food preparation worker salary in the finance industry is $25,652.
- Food preparation workers in the pharmaceutical industry earn an average salary of $24,936, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for food preparation workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $26,969 | $12.97 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $25,652 | $12.33 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $25,498 | $12.26 |
| 4 | Pharmaceutical | $24,936 | $11.99 |
High paying food preparation worker jobs
Food preparation worker salary trends
The average food preparation worker salary has risen by $6,522 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food preparation worker earned $18,482 annually, but today, they earn $25,004 a year. That works out to a 22% change in pay for food preparation workers over the last decade.
Compare food preparation worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food preparation worker salary over time
Compare food preparation worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food preparation worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,000 | $12.02 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $23,800 | $11.44 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $22,800 | $10.94 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $21,800 | $10.48 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | $20,600 | $9.89 | +5.9% |
Recently added food preparation worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodexo | Food Preparation Worker | Milton, MA | 06/26/2025 | $42,470 |
| Sodexo S A | Food Preparation Worker | Milton, MA | 06/26/2025 | $42,470 |
| Sodexo S A | Food Preparation Worker | Saint Louis, MO | 06/25/2025 | $33,079 |
| HCA Healthcare | Food-Nutrition SVC Worker | Idaho Falls, ID | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Food Preparation/Service Worker | Austin, TX | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| University Hospital | Food SVC Worker (Dietary-Cafeteria) | Newark, NJ | 05/26/2025 | $34,415 |
| Aramark | Food Prep Worker-Yosemite Valley Lodge | National City, CA | 05/16/2025 | $36,418 |
| Edinburg Independent School District | Food Preparation Staff-Prospective Elementary Campus) | Edinburg, TX | 05/02/2025 | $31,827 |
| Sodexo | Food Preparation Worker | San Diego, CA | 04/28/2025 | $44,871 |
| University of Texas-Austin | Food Preparation/Service Worker | Cove, UT | 04/28/2025 | $37,440 |
Food preparation worker salary FAQs
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