Food Preparation Workers Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 51 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median food preparation workers in the US earns $35,320 per year (893,600 employed). Gross pay is highest in Washington ($40,910) and lowest in Louisiana ($23,620) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Food Preparation Workers pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers in Washington | $40,910 | $35,051 | $2,921 | 85.7% | 19,510 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Washington DC | $39,600 | $32,789 | $2,732 | 82.8% | 3,970 |
| Food Preparation Workers in California | $39,350 | $33,234 | $2,770 | 84.5% | 112,750 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Colorado | $38,960 | $32,479 | $2,707 | 83.4% | 12,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts | $38,900 | $31,711 | $2,643 | 81.5% | 13,620 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Hawaii | $38,160 | $31,396 | $2,616 | 82.3% | 5,950 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Oregon | $37,450 | $29,824 | $2,485 | 79.6% | 11,860 |
| Food Preparation Workers in North Dakota | $36,800 | $31,749 | $2,646 | 86.3% | 980 |
| Food Preparation Workers in New Hampshire | $36,780 | $31,733 | $2,644 | 86.3% | 3,420 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Arizona | $36,750 | $30,999 | $2,583 | 84.4% | 16,590 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Connecticut | $36,650 | $30,904 | $2,575 | 84.3% | 12,250 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Vermont | $36,550 | $30,757 | $2,563 | 84.2% | 1,350 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Wyoming | $36,110 | $31,194 | $2,600 | 86.4% | 1,620 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Maine | $36,030 | $29,832 | $2,486 | 82.8% | 4,560 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Delaware | $35,930 | $29,733 | $2,478 | 82.8% | 2,400 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Florida | $35,920 | $31,042 | $2,587 | 86.4% | 73,100 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Alaska | $35,720 | $30,881 | $2,573 | 86.5% | 2,800 |
| Food Preparation Workers in New York | $35,610 | $29,467 | $2,456 | 82.7% | 62,380 |
| Food Preparation Workers in New Jersey | $35,540 | $30,202 | $2,517 | 85% | 24,730 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Maryland | $35,500 | $29,382 | $2,448 | 82.8% | 13,280 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Rhode Island | $35,470 | $29,967 | $2,497 | 84.5% | 2,830 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Georgia | $35,250 | $29,297 | $2,441 | 83.1% | 26,450 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Nebraska | $35,210 | $29,749 | $2,479 | 84.5% | 6,890 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Virginia | $34,900 | $29,030 | $2,419 | 83.2% | 16,340 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Illinois | $34,850 | $28,602 | $2,383 | 82.1% | 34,820 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Minnesota | $34,850 | $29,136 | $2,428 | 83.6% | 24,620 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Ohio | $34,530 | $29,758 | $2,480 | 86.2% | 19,480 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Wisconsin | $34,070 | $28,837 | $2,403 | 84.6% | 17,990 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Montana | $33,860 | $28,552 | $2,379 | 84.3% | 2,990 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Utah | $33,540 | $27,620 | $2,302 | 82.3% | 10,530 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Nevada | $33,460 | $29,065 | $2,422 | 86.9% | 11,420 |
| Food Preparation Workers in New Mexico | $33,370 | $28,525 | $2,377 | 85.5% | 6,850 |
| Food Preparation Workers in South Carolina | $32,180 | $27,263 | $2,272 | 84.7% | 14,460 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Idaho | $31,510 | $26,937 | $2,245 | 85.5% | 4,670 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Missouri | $31,510 | $26,955 | $2,246 | 85.5% | 13,650 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Michigan | $31,180 | $26,159 | $2,180 | 83.9% | 17,380 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $26,013 | $2,168 | 84.3% | 17,940 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Texas | $30,650 | $26,807 | $2,234 | 87.5% | 81,280 |
| Food Preparation Workers in South Dakota | $30,430 | $26,631 | $2,219 | 87.5% | 3,270 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Iowa | $30,360 | $26,072 | $2,173 | 85.9% | 4,170 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Kansas | $30,280 | $25,599 | $2,133 | 84.5% | 7,680 |
| Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina | $30,260 | $25,795 | $2,150 | 85.2% | 24,960 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Indiana | $29,700 | $25,197 | $2,100 | 84.8% | 16,200 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Tennessee | $28,700 | $25,240 | $2,103 | 87.9% | 19,780 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Oklahoma | $28,540 | $24,373 | $2,031 | 85.4% | 7,430 |
| Food Preparation Workers in West Virginia | $28,360 | $24,253 | $2,021 | 85.5% | 2,960 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Alabama | $27,930 | $23,479 | $1,957 | 84.1% | 17,680 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Arkansas | $27,660 | $23,522 | $1,960 | 85% | 5,500 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Kentucky | $26,850 | $22,899 | $1,908 | 85.3% | 15,390 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Mississippi | $26,240 | $22,901 | $1,908 | 87.3% | 7,870 |
| Food Preparation Workers in Louisiana | $23,620 | $20,739 | $1,728 | 87.8% | 30,920 |
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