Food preparation worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$17.73 per hour

$36,890 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$14.66 per hour

$30,500 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$14.04 per hour

$29,200 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$11.31 per hour

$23,520 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$9.97 per hour

$20,730 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Food preparation worker salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $36,300
District of Columbia $35,940
California $31,800
New York $31,350
Oregon $31,180
Massachusetts $31,130
Rhode Island $30,720
Hawaii $30,650
Colorado $30,420
New Hampshire $30,390
Alaska $30,310
Maine $29,910
Virgin Islands, U.S. $29,650
Arizona $29,580
Connecticut $29,570
North Dakota $29,500
Minnesota $29,250
Florida $29,200
Wyoming $29,200
Vermont $28,740
New Jersey $28,700
Maryland $28,620
Illinois $28,560
Nevada $28,350
Texas $28,350
Nebraska $28,310
Michigan $28,140
Delaware $28,100
Virginia $27,490
Indiana $25,100
Montana $25,100
Wisconsin $25,010
Georgia $24,810
Pennsylvania $24,680
Arkansas $24,610
Missouri $24,490
North Carolina $24,490
Idaho $24,370
Kansas $24,360
Ohio $24,320
South Dakota $24,230
Oklahoma $23,970
South Carolina $23,970
Utah $23,850
Kentucky $23,720
Iowa $23,520
New Mexico $22,890
West Virginia $22,870
Tennessee $22,780
Guam $20,150
Alabama $19,050
Louisiana $18,980
Mississippi $18,900
Puerto Rico $18,090

How do food preparation worker salaries compare to similar careers?

Food preparation workers earn about the same as related careers in Florida. On average, they make less than restaurant cooks but more than maitres d'.

Career Median Salary
Restaurant cook salary $30K
Baker salary $29K
Food server salary $22K
Bartender salary $22K
Dietetic technician salary $28K
Food preparation worker salary $29K
Maitre d' salary $23K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)