Food preparation worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$14.70 per hour

$30,580 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$11.83 per hour

$24,610 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$9.92 per hour

$20,640 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$8.77 per hour

$18,240 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:

$8.10 per hour

$16,850 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Food preparation worker salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $29,100
Washington $28,210
Nevada $28,130
Rhode Island $27,910
Massachusetts $27,420
Hawaii $27,009
Oregon $26,770
New York $26,656
Connecticut $26,430
Minnesota $26,180
Vermont $25,840
Illinois $25,200
North Dakota $25,150
Alaska $24,558
California $24,402
New Hampshire $24,360
Maryland $24,220
Utah $24,030
Maine $23,870
Arizona $23,241
Florida $23,020
Texas $22,730
Nebraska $22,710
Wyoming $22,600
South Carolina $22,540
Michigan $22,530
New Jersey $22,520
Montana $22,240
Tennessee $22,160
Wisconsin $21,960
South Dakota $21,880
North Carolina $21,660
Virgin Islands, U.S. $21,500
New Mexico $21,460
Iowa $21,272
Colorado $21,233
Ohio $21,040
Delaware $20,880
Missouri $20,840
Virginia $20,640
Georgia $20,350
West Virginia $20,330
Pennsylvania $20,265
Kansas $20,248
Oklahoma $19,880
Arkansas $19,767
Idaho $19,715
Indiana $19,697
Alabama $19,643
Guam $19,420
Kentucky $19,301
Mississippi $18,540
Louisiana $18,350
Puerto Rico $17,830

How do food preparation worker salaries compare to similar careers?

Food preparation workers earn 12% less than similar careers in Virginia. On average, they make less than dietetic technicians but more than hosts and hostesses.

Career Median Salary
Dietetic technician salary $32K
Baker salary $25K
Restaurant cook salary $25K
Bartender salary $23K
Food server salary $20K
Food preparation worker salary $21K
Barista salary $21K
Host and hostess salary $20K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)