Food preparation workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Mean (average) | $35,290 | $16.96 |
| 90th percentile | $45,340 | $21.80 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Food preparation workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,930 | $20,820 | $37,580 | 17,680 | 1.46 |
| Alaska | $35,720 | $30,350 | $46,440 | 2,800 | 1.5 |
| Arizona | $36,750 | $31,300 | $44,640 | 16,590 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $24,020 | $36,260 | 5,500 | 0.73 |
| California | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 | 1.08 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | $30,800 | $49,000 | 12,080 | 0.73 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 | $34,010 | $47,790 | 12,250 | 1.26 |
| Delaware | $35,930 | $31,200 | $43,070 | 2,400 | 0.86 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | $37,510 | $45,370 | 3,970 | 0.98 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $28,190 | $43,300 | 73,100 | 1.28 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $24,840 | $40,390 | 26,450 | 0.94 |
| Guam | $21,820 | $20,700 | $25,580 | 530 | 1.38 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 | $29,950 | $57,720 | 5,950 | 1.65 |
| Idaho | $31,510 | $22,150 | $40,260 | 4,670 | 0.95 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $31,200 | $44,990 | 34,820 | 0.99 |
| Indiana | $29,700 | $23,170 | $39,050 | 16,200 | 0.88 |
| Iowa | $30,360 | $23,760 | $40,250 | 4,170 | 0.47 |
| Kansas | $30,280 | $22,880 | $39,220 | 7,680 | 0.93 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 | $20,900 | $37,830 | 15,390 | 1.34 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $17,970 | $34,190 | 30,920 | 2.78 |
| Maine | $36,030 | $31,150 | $46,400 | 4,560 | 1.24 |
| Maryland | $35,500 | $31,290 | $45,890 | 13,280 | 0.84 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | $34,280 | $48,420 | 13,620 | 0.65 |
| Michigan | $31,180 | $26,540 | $38,620 | 17,380 | 0.69 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $29,150 | $45,790 | 24,620 | 1.45 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 | $18,790 | $36,100 | 7,870 | 1.18 |
| Missouri | $31,510 | $28,600 | $44,440 | 13,650 | 0.81 |
| Montana | $33,860 | $26,000 | $43,410 | 2,990 | 1.02 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 | $28,740 | $42,560 | 6,890 | 1.17 |
| Nevada | $33,460 | $26,140 | $50,600 | 11,420 | 1.28 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 | $26,830 | $45,980 | 3,420 | 0.87 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $32,220 | $46,070 | 24,730 | 1 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 | $27,290 | $38,200 | 6,850 | 1.37 |
| New York | $35,610 | $33,280 | $46,800 | 62,380 | 1.12 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $21,870 | $38,760 | 24,960 | 0.88 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 | $28,400 | $43,840 | 980 | 0.4 |
| Ohio | $34,530 | $26,640 | $44,500 | 19,480 | 0.61 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 | $20,800 | $35,980 | 7,430 | 0.76 |
| Oregon | $37,450 | $31,560 | $48,580 | 11,860 | 1.05 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $22,360 | $39,600 | 17,940 | 0.51 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,400 | $21,840 | $27,550 | 4,130 | 0.76 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 | $31,200 | $45,220 | 2,830 | 0.98 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 | $22,990 | $40,370 | 14,460 | 1.09 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 | $26,510 | $38,580 | 3,270 | 1.24 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $22,290 | $39,660 | 19,780 | 1.05 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $22,790 | $42,450 | 81,280 | 1.01 |
| Utah | $33,540 | $26,740 | $45,290 | 10,530 | 1.06 |
| Vermont | $36,550 | $31,840 | $49,020 | 1,350 | 0.77 |
| Virgin Islands | $30,460 | $27,150 | $31,960 | 390 | 2.1 |
| Virginia | $34,900 | $28,460 | $42,480 | 16,340 | 0.69 |
| Washington | $40,910 | $34,890 | $51,730 | 19,510 | 0.96 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 | $21,570 | $35,890 | 2,960 | 0.73 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | 17,990 | 1.06 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 | $22,880 | $46,590 | 1,620 | 1 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for food preparation workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 135,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for food preparation workers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
- Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
- CBORD Foodservice Suite
- CBORD NetRecipe
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- EGS CALCMENU
- Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook
- Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard
- MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows
- Quizlet
- Recipe software
- ValuSoft MasterCook
- YouTube
- iPro
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Time Management, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Cook, Cook Aide, Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk), Diet Aide, Dietary Aide, Food Prep (Food Preparer), Food Service Aide, Food Service Worker (FSW), Line Cook, Nutrition Aide.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation workers make?
The national median annual wage for food preparation workers was $35,320 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $25,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $45,340. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do food preparation workers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is food preparation workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of food preparation workers to change -3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 135,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food preparation workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($40,910), District of Columbia ($39,600), California ($39,350). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.