Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a Prep Person in the United States stands at $33,901 per year. This translates to approximately $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, prep persons in metropolitan areas may earn higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living.
On average, entry-level prep persons can expect to earn around $28,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000. The disparity often reflects the level of skill required and the responsibilities associated with the role.
Understanding regional salary differences is crucial for career advancement. States such as California, New York, and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for prep persons. Major cities like San Francisco and New York City frequently list higher-paying job openings.
Overall, the prep person role is vital across various sectors, presenting numerous opportunities for growth and competitive compensation. By evaluating salary data and job listings, you can tailor your career path to maximize your earning potential.
Let Zippia find your next prep person job
Let Zippia find your next prep person job
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level prep person | $25,400 | $12.22 |
| Mid-level prep person | $30,700 | $14.76 |
| Senior-level prep person | $36,500 | $17.54 |
The highest-paying states for prep people are New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. The lowest average prep person salary states are Arkansas, Kansas, and West Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $45,107 | $21.69 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $48,225 | $23.19 |
| 3 | Nevada | $39,217 | $18.85 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $45,909 | $22.07 |
| 5 | New York | $45,286 | $21.77 |
| 6 | Vermont | $37,978 | $18.26 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $40,905 | $19.67 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $39,634 | $19.05 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $41,752 | $20.07 |
| 10 | Michigan | $33,279 | $16.00 |
| 11 | Washington | $40,785 | $19.61 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $33,784 | $16.24 |
| 13 | Illinois | $34,336 | $16.51 |
| 14 | Maine | $35,836 | $17.23 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $35,391 | $17.01 |
| 16 | Georgia | $30,331 | $14.58 |
| 17 | Maryland | $36,326 | $17.46 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $41,174 | $19.80 |
| 20 | California | $36,229 | $17.42 |
| 21 | Delaware | $38,275 | $18.40 |
| 22 | Oregon | $35,367 | $17.00 |
| 23 | Idaho | $33,784 | $16.24 |
| 24 | Colorado | $32,308 | $15.53 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $34,415 | $16.55 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $30,528 | $14.68 |
| 27 | Arizona | $31,056 | $14.93 |
| 28 | Iowa | $30,453 | $14.64 |
| 29 | Alaska | $33,254 | $15.99 |
| 30 | Florida | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| 31 | Ohio | $27,695 | $13.31 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $26,779 | $12.87 |
| 33 | Utah | $29,317 | $14.09 |
| 34 | Indiana | $26,138 | $12.57 |
| 35 | Virginia | $31,086 | $14.95 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $27,144 | $13.05 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $25,797 | $12.40 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $25,912 | $12.46 |
| 39 | Missouri | $29,389 | $14.13 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $24,992 | $12.02 |
| 41 | Texas | $26,264 | $12.63 |
| 42 | Montana | $28,571 | $13.74 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $25,499 | $12.26 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $28,472 | $13.69 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $27,974 | $13.45 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $25,760 | $12.38 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $27,069 | $13.01 |
| 48 | Kansas | $25,394 | $12.21 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $24,246 | $11.66 |
| 50 | Alabama | $23,859 | $11.47 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,176 | $10.66 |
The highest-paying cities for prep people are New York, NY, Erie, PA, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 2 | Erie, PA | $38,998 | $18.75 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $36,916 | $17.75 |
| 4 | Blaine, MN | $35,574 | $17.10 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $35,289 | $16.97 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $34,787 | $16.72 |
| 7 | Bolingbrook, IL | $34,282 | $16.48 |
| 8 | Saginaw, MI | $34,194 | $16.44 |
| 9 | Alexandria, VA | $33,745 | $16.22 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,684 | $16.19 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $31,199 | $15.00 |
| 12 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $30,671 | $14.75 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $30,521 | $14.67 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $29,786 | $14.32 |
| 15 | Columbia, MO | $29,476 | $14.17 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,698 | $13.80 |
| 17 | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | $28,512 | $13.71 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $27,280 | $13.12 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $27,066 | $13.01 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | $26,410 | $12.70 |
A prep person's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $57,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $33,901 | $2,825 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
The highest paying types of prep people are cook manager, lead cook, and line cook/dishwasher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | $31,803 | $2,650 | $15.29 | 184,818 |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | $34,435 | $2,870 | $16.56 | 133,370 |
| Grill Cook | $31,895 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 184,603 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Lead Cook | $35,964 | $2,997 | $17.29 | 160,223 |
| Fry Cook | $30,622 | $2,552 | $14.72 | 246,323 |
Top companies hiring prep people now:
Prep person salaries at 24 Carrots Catering and Events and Brunswick are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average prep person salary at companies like The Kraft Heinz Company and Perkins & Co are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 Carrots Catering and Events | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| 2 | Brunswick | $39,727 | $19.10 |
| 3 | The Kraft Heinz Company | $32,994 | $15.86 |
| 4 | Perkins & Co | $32,539 | $15.64 |
| 5 | Chicken Salad Chick | $31,557 | $15.17 |
| 6 | SAGE Dining Services | $31,435 | $15.11 |
| 7 | Fairmont Schools | $31,197 | $15.00 |
| 8 | Eat'n Park | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| 9 | Papa Murphy's | $30,211 | $14.52 |
| 10 | Playa Bowls | $30,113 | $14.48 |
| 11 | Cruise America | $29,197 | $14.04 |
| 12 | Mega Force Staffing | $27,909 | $13.42 |
| 13 | Culver's | $27,902 | $13.41 |
| 14 | MasteryPrep | $27,626 | $13.28 |
| 15 | Bojangles | $27,049 | $13.00 |
| 16 | Perkins Family Restaurants LP | $27,031 | $13.00 |
| 17 | Moe's Southwest Grill | $26,704 | $12.84 |
| 18 | Burger King | $26,607 | $12.79 |
| 19 | Panera Bread | $26,514 | $12.75 |
| 20 | Chick-fil-A | $26,033 | $12.52 |
The average prep person salary has risen by $7,910 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average prep person earned $25,991 annually, but today, they earn $33,901 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for prep people over the last decade.
Compare prep person salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare prep person salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,900 | $16.30 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $32,700 | $15.73 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $31,200 | $15.01 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $29,600 | $14.25 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $28,400 | $13.66 | +4.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Prep Person | Watertown, SD | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| Chicken Salad Chick | Prep | Clearwater, FL | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| Bulls Bridge Golf Club | Pantry, Prep Person | Kent, CT | 06/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Kraft Heinz | Prep | Cedar Rapids, IA | 06/19/2025 | $44,307 |
| Hot Head Burritos | Morning Prep Person at Hot Head Burritos# | Hermitage, PA | 06/12/2025 | $29,218 |
| Q39 | AM Prep | Kansas City, MO | 06/07/2025 | $36,523 |
| Villagio Hospitality Group | Prep | Clifton, VA | 05/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Villagio Hospitality Group LLC | Prep | Manassas, VA | 05/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Golden Corral, Zeal Group | Food Prep Person | Goodyear, AZ | 05/26/2025 | $27,131 |
| Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches | Morning Prep Person | Michigan City, IN | 05/25/2025 | $31,305 |
Search for prep person jobs