Food preparation worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$14.38 per hour

$29,910 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$13.05 per hour

$27,140 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$11.77 per hour

$24,490 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$10.87 per hour

$22,620 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$10.31 per hour

$21,440 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 7% less than similar careers in Missouri. On average, they make less than bartenders but more than maitres d'.

Career Median Salary
Bartender salary $23K
Restaurant cook salary $28K
Baker salary $28K
Food server salary $23K
Dietetic technician salary $26K
Food preparation worker salary $24K
Maitre d' salary $23K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)