Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Food preparer salary
Average food preparer salary
$13.33
Food Preparer Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average food preparer salary is approximately $27,717 per year. This figure can vary significantly depending on location, employer, and years of experience. For instance, food preparers in high-demand areas may earn more due to the cost of living and competitive job markets.
Where Can You Earn More?
States such as California and New York tend to offer higher salaries for food preparers, with average hourly rates exceeding $15 in some urban areas. Additionally, food preparers in specialized roles or those working in fine dining establishments often command higher wages due to the skills required.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a key role in salary potential. Entry-level positions may start around $10 per hour, while those with several years of experience can exceed $15 per hour. Benefits and job security also vary by employer, making it essential for candidates to assess all aspects of a job offer.
In summary, pursuing a career as a food preparer offers varying salary opportunities based on geography and experience, making it a viable option for many seeking employment in the culinary field.
Let Zippia find your next food preparer job
Let Zippia find your next food preparer job
Where can a Food Preparer earn more?
Food preparer salary estimates from across the web
Average food preparer salary by state
The average food preparer salary in New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food preparer salary states are West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food preparers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $30,559 | $14.69 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $27,957 | $13.44 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $33,424 | $16.07 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $26,431 | $12.71 |
| 5 | Michigan | $26,743 | $12.86 |
| 6 | Colorado | $29,035 | $13.96 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $27,383 | $13.16 |
| 8 | New York | $31,965 | $15.37 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $28,900 | $13.89 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $28,408 | $13.66 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $31,935 | $15.35 |
| 12 | Ohio | $25,568 | $12.29 |
| 13 | Vermont | $31,083 | $14.94 |
| 14 | Maine | $29,842 | $14.35 |
| 15 | Oregon | $29,778 | $14.32 |
| 16 | Delaware | $27,659 | $13.30 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $28,508 | $13.71 |
| 18 | Missouri | $25,496 | $12.26 |
| 19 | Arizona | $25,342 | $12.18 |
| 20 | Idaho | $28,076 | $13.50 |
| 21 | California | $30,111 | $14.48 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $26,723 | $12.85 |
| 23 | Illinois | $25,255 | $12.14 |
| 24 | Montana | $25,364 | $12.19 |
| 25 | Iowa | $24,136 | $11.60 |
| 26 | Kansas | $24,843 | $11.94 |
| 27 | Alaska | $25,203 | $12.12 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $24,549 | $11.80 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $23,336 | $11.22 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $25,567 | $12.29 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $28,366 | $13.64 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $24,115 | $11.59 |
| 33 | Texas | $22,740 | $10.93 |
| 34 | Indiana | $23,177 | $11.14 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $22,068 | $10.61 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $24,877 | $11.96 |
| 37 | Maryland | $26,217 | $12.60 |
| 38 | Nevada | $24,279 | $11.67 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $21,910 | $10.53 |
| 40 | Alabama | $23,091 | $11.10 |
| 41 | Utah | $23,847 | $11.46 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $23,603 | $11.35 |
| 43 | Virginia | $22,587 | $10.86 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $22,516 | $10.82 |
| 45 | Florida | $22,219 | $10.68 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $26,577 | $12.78 |
| 47 | Washington | $23,632 | $11.36 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $21,141 | $10.16 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $21,010 | $10.10 |
| 50 | Georgia | $20,618 | $9.91 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $21,708 | $10.44 |
Highest paying cities for food preparers
The highest-paying cities for food preparers are Commack, NY, Boston, MA, and Burlington, VT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commack, NY | $32,191 | $15.48 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $31,996 | $15.38 |
| 3 | Burlington, VT | $31,089 | $14.95 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $30,898 | $14.85 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $28,375 | $13.64 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $27,745 | $13.34 |
| 8 | Winston-Salem, NC | $27,464 | $13.20 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $26,740 | $12.86 |
| 10 | Franklin, TN | $26,441 | $12.71 |
| 11 | Kahului, HI | $26,364 | $12.68 |
| 12 | Lima, OH | $25,414 | $12.22 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $25,350 | $12.19 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $22,980 | $11.05 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $22,753 | $10.94 |
| 16 | Hattiesburg, MS | $22,393 | $10.77 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $22,289 | $10.72 |
| 18 | Norman, OK | $21,652 | $10.41 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $20,668 | $9.94 |
Food preparer salary details
A food preparer's salary ranges from $20,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food preparer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| Average | $27,717 | $2,310 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
Highest paying food preparer jobs
The highest paying types of food preparers are associate food scientist, food handler, and prep cook.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Line Server | $28,300 | $2,358 | $13.61 | 246,165 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Crew Member | $28,946 | $2,412 | $13.92 | 239,413 |
| Mexican Food Cook | $31,039 | $2,587 | $14.92 | 275,588 |
| Prep Cook | $32,292 | $2,691 | $15.53 | 168,265 |
Top companies hiring food preparers now:
Which companies pay food preparers the most?
Food preparer salaries at Mount Sinai Health System and Whole Foods Market are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food preparer salary at companies like Sysco and BJ's Wholesale Club are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Sinai Health System | $32,713 | $15.73 |
| 2 | Whole Foods Market | $31,785 | $15.28 |
| 3 | Sysco | $29,602 | $14.23 |
| 4 | BJ's Wholesale Club | $29,221 | $14.05 |
| 5 | Kelly Services | $29,212 | $14.04 |
| 6 | SusieCakes Bakery | $29,181 | $14.03 |
| 7 | HMSHost | $28,431 | $13.67 |
| 8 | Samaritan Healthcare | $28,361 | $13.64 |
| 9 | PeopleReady | $28,322 | $13.62 |
| 10 | The Reserves Network | $28,128 | $13.52 |
| 11 | Adecco | $28,084 | $13.50 |
| 12 | PSEA | $28,083 | $13.50 |
| 13 | Dream Dinners | $27,845 | $13.39 |
| 14 | Delaware North | $27,283 | $13.12 |
| 15 | Culver's | $27,267 | $13.11 |
| 16 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $26,927 | $12.95 |
| 17 | Buffalo Wild Wings | $26,551 | $12.76 |
| 18 | LSG Sky Chefs | $26,472 | $12.73 |
| 19 | Gate Gourmet Inc | $26,437 | $12.71 |
| 20 | Northern Lights | $26,162 | $12.58 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food preparer salary trends
The average food preparer salary has risen by $6,262 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food preparer earned $21,455 annually, but today, they earn $27,717 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for food preparers over the last decade.
Compare food preparer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food preparer salary over time
Compare food preparer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food preparer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,700 | $13.33 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $26,400 | $12.70 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $25,000 | $12.02 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $23,700 | $11.42 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $22,900 | $11.00 | +2.7% |
Recently added food preparer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Sinai Medical Center | Food Preparer C(Cook)-Food Service-Mount Sinai Hospital Evenings(12Pm-8Pm)/Every Other | Pavilion, NY | 06/27/2025 | $57,747 |
| Gate Gourmet | Food Preparer | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/18/2025 | $39,653 |
| Peopleready | Food Preparer | Bettendorf, IA | 06/18/2025 | $29,218 |
| Pilgrim's Pride Corp | Production Hourly-Prepared Foods | Moorefield, WV | 06/17/2025 | $35,360 |
| New Pioneer Food Co-Op | Retail Service Team-Prepared Foods & Deli | Coralville, IA | 06/12/2025 | $29,218 |
| Peopleready | Food Preparer | Phoenix, AZ | 06/06/2025 | $34,436 |
| Avolta | Food Preparer | Chicago, IL | 05/25/2025 | $36,523 |
| Avolta | Food Preparer | Boston, MA | 05/25/2025 | $39,862 |
| Peopleready | Food Preparer | Bettendorf, IA | 05/22/2025 | $29,218 |
| Pilgrim's | Production Hourly-Prepared Foods | Moorefield, WV | 05/17/2025 | $35,360 |
Food preparer salary FAQs
Search for food preparer jobs