Food Preparation Worker Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$35,320
$16.98/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th percentile | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 75th percentile | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 90th percentile | $45,340 | $21.80 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 893,600
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | ||
| 1st | $40,910 | $38,229 4th |
| District of Columbia | ||
| 2nd | $39,600 | $36,032 15th |
| California | ||
| 3rd | $39,350 | $35,540 18th |
| Colorado | ||
| 4th | $38,960 | $37,806 5th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 5th | $38,900 | $36,782 9th |
| Hawaii | ||
| 6th | $38,160 | $34,706 25th |
| Oregon | ||
| 7th | $37,450 | $36,232 12th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 8th | $36,800 | $41,367 1st |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 9th | $36,780 | $35,309 21st |
| Arizona | ||
| 10th | $36,750 | $36,503 11th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 11th | $36,650 | $35,373 19th |
| Vermont | ||
| 12th | $36,550 | $37,312 6th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 13th | $36,110 | $38,957 3rd |
| Maine | ||
| 14th | $36,030 | $37,125 8th |
| Delaware | ||
| 15th | $35,930 | $35,999 16th |
| Florida | ||
| 16th | $35,920 | $34,734 24th |
| Alaska | ||
| 17th | $35,720 | $34,897 22nd |
| New York | ||
| 18th | $35,610 | $32,996 37th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 19th | $35,540 | $32,664 38th |
| Maryland | ||
| 20th | $35,500 | $33,823 33rd |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 21st | $35,470 | $34,679 27th |
| Georgia | ||
| 22nd | $35,250 | $36,607 10th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 23rd | $35,210 | $39,078 2nd |
| Virginia | ||
| 24th | $34,900 | $34,519 29th |
| Illinois | ||
| 25th | $34,850 | $34,865 23rd |
| Minnesota | ||
| 25th | $34,850 | $35,337 20th |
| Ohio | ||
| 27th | $34,530 | $37,219 7th |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 28th | $34,070 | $36,208 13th |
| Montana | ||
| 29th | $33,860 | $35,776 17th |
| Utah | ||
| 30th | $33,540 | $33,925 32nd |
| Nevada | ||
| 31st | $33,460 | $33,467 35th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 32nd | $33,370 | $36,188 14th |
| South Carolina | ||
| 33rd | $32,180 | $34,326 31st |
| Idaho | ||
| 34th | $31,510 | $32,997 36th |
| Missouri | ||
| 34th | $31,510 | $34,696 26th |
| Michigan | ||
| 36th | $31,180 | $32,406 40th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 37th | $30,840 | $31,607 45th |
| Texas | ||
| 38th | $30,650 | $31,579 46th |
| South Dakota | ||
| 39th | $30,430 | $34,351 30th |
| Iowa | ||
| 40th | $30,360 | $34,594 28th |
| Kansas | ||
| 41st | $30,280 | $33,619 34th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 42nd | $30,260 | $32,080 41st |
| Indiana | ||
| 43rd | $29,700 | $31,823 42nd |
| Tennessee | ||
| 44th | $28,700 | $31,240 48th |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 45th | $28,540 | $32,490 39th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 46th | $28,360 | $31,688 44th |
| Alabama | ||
| 47th | $27,930 | $31,445 47th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 48th | $27,660 | $31,816 43rd |
| Kentucky | ||
| 49th | $26,850 | $29,781 50th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 50th | $26,240 | $30,177 49th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 51st | $23,620 | $26,778 51st |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
- Baker salary in the U.S.
$37,160/year U.S.
- Chef and Head Cook salary in the U.S.
$62,470/year U.S.
- Dishwasher salary in the U.S.
$34,810/year U.S.
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- −3.0%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- No formal educational credential
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated