Food Preparation Workers Salary
SOC Code: 35-2021 • Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Pay Range Distribution
Food Preparation Workers Salary by State
| State | Median | Mean | Employment | Entry (10th) | Top (90th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $38,950 | $41,210 | 21,090 | $33,860 | $50,610 |
| Colorado | $38,670 | $40,210 | 11,290 | $31,930 | $48,380 |
| District of Columbia | $38,440 | $40,120 | 3,320 | $36,400 | $45,490 |
| California | $38,150 | $40,510 | 98,950 | $34,840 | $47,910 |
| Massachusetts | $37,780 | $40,620 | 14,890 | $34,310 | $50,580 |
| Hawaii | $37,240 | $41,410 | 4,780 | $29,830 | $62,780 |
| Vermont | $37,030 | $39,220 | 1,260 | $31,290 | $48,170 |
| Alaska | $36,710 | $37,840 | 2,840 | $29,650 | $46,840 |
| Oregon | $36,390 | $36,960 | 13,890 | $30,520 | $44,290 |
| New York | $36,030 | $38,460 | 51,880 | $31,550 | $47,040 |
| Maine | $35,730 | $36,320 | 5,540 | $30,270 | $44,520 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 | $35,460 | 700 | $30,040 | $43,350 |
| Arizona | $35,480 | $36,550 | 15,500 | $30,710 | $42,850 |
| Rhode Island | $35,460 | $37,040 | 2,250 | $29,200 | $50,640 |
| Connecticut | $35,420 | $37,450 | 11,450 | $32,640 | $45,420 |
| Florida | $35,190 | $34,520 | 67,030 | $27,690 | $41,580 |
| New Hampshire | $35,170 | $34,870 | 3,520 | $26,420 | $44,260 |
| New Jersey | $34,910 | $36,960 | 25,170 | $31,470 | $46,570 |
| Minnesota | $34,820 | $35,170 | 23,720 | $28,590 | $45,620 |
| Wyoming | $34,380 | $33,980 | 1,580 | $24,130 | $42,400 |
| Maryland | $34,310 | $35,870 | 12,160 | $31,200 | $44,160 |
| Illinois | $34,180 | $35,820 | 29,320 | $29,120 | $44,610 |
| Nevada | $33,910 | $34,850 | 11,280 | $24,340 | $48,640 |
| Delaware | $33,280 | $34,030 | 2,480 | $28,580 | $41,260 |
| Georgia | $32,890 | $32,730 | 27,200 | $24,600 | $38,230 |
| Michigan | $32,810 | $33,080 | 14,380 | $25,910 | $39,830 |
| Wisconsin | $32,810 | $32,980 | 19,940 | $23,910 | $42,370 |
| Nebraska | $32,420 | $32,790 | 8,210 | $27,770 | $38,050 |
| Utah | $32,090 | $33,340 | 9,370 | $25,790 | $42,170 |
| Ohio | $31,590 | $32,540 | 19,290 | $24,680 | $39,290 |
| Virginia | $31,500 | $33,170 | 16,170 | $26,890 | $40,850 |
| Idaho | $31,440 | $31,380 | 4,530 | $20,210 | $40,220 |
| Montana | $31,420 | $32,400 | 2,700 | $25,920 | $39,570 |
| Missouri | $30,530 | $32,550 | 15,250 | $26,390 | $38,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,150 | $31,360 | 20,540 | $21,690 | $40,300 |
| Indiana | $30,090 | $31,420 | 15,340 | $23,220 | $39,860 |
| South Carolina | $30,050 | $30,900 | 14,500 | $21,960 | $38,590 |
| Iowa | $29,840 | $29,950 | 5,050 | $21,300 | $37,900 |
| South Dakota | $29,820 | $30,760 | 3,320 | $25,600 | $37,400 |
| Kansas | $29,410 | $30,480 | 7,520 | $22,220 | $38,980 |
| North Carolina | $29,410 | $30,030 | 24,420 | $21,910 | $37,010 |
| New Mexico | $29,350 | $30,840 | 8,330 | $26,490 | $36,340 |
| Tennessee | $28,980 | $30,350 | 22,530 | $22,750 | $38,820 |
| Texas | $28,660 | $30,140 | 106,040 | $22,040 | $38,860 |
| West Virginia | $27,610 | $28,100 | 2,830 | $21,440 | $36,170 |
| Arkansas | $27,330 | $29,010 | 5,860 | $23,860 | $35,460 |
| Oklahoma | $26,450 | $26,360 | 7,030 | $19,120 | $35,710 |
| Alabama | $25,510 | $26,660 | 14,540 | $19,600 | $36,670 |
| Kentucky | $24,520 | $26,280 | 15,500 | $18,390 | $35,970 |
| Mississippi | $23,190 | $25,190 | 7,490 | $17,990 | $34,640 |
| Louisiana | $22,900 | $24,770 | 35,130 | $17,590 | $33,000 |
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,120 | $44,070 | 6,240 |
| Napa, CA | $43,260 | $44,210 | 530 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $42,830 | $47,010 | 560 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $41,980 | $42,840 | 11,930 |
| Boulder, CO | $41,490 | $43,100 | 540 |
| Greeley, CO | $41,340 | $39,280 | 590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $40,810 | $42,250 | 1,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,660 | $42,070 | 12,470 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $39,360 | $41,370 | 330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,300 | $40,560 | 6,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,670 | $41,180 | 950 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $38,270 | $39,100 | 570 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $38,240 | $39,510 | 680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,200 | $40,000 | 5,230 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,130 | $40,310 | 8,010 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $38,090 | $41,050 | 10,540 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $38,070 | $39,780 | 370 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,990 | $39,630 | 8,900 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,810 | $40,360 | 770 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,790 | $40,340 | 760 |
About Food Preparation Workers Salary Data
This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The median salary represents the midpoint — half of food preparation workerss earn more and half earn less. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay, while the 90th percentile represents the highest earners in this occupation. Employment counts represent estimated total jobs in May 2024.
Understanding Salary Percentiles
Salary percentiles show how wages are distributed across workers in this occupation. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay — only 10% earn less. The median (50th percentile) is the true midpoint of all wages. The 90th percentile reflects top earners, typically in senior roles or high-cost metro areas. A wide gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles indicates that experience, location, and specialization significantly affect pay.
Factors That Affect Pay
Several factors influence salary for this occupation. Location is one of the biggest — the same job can pay 50% more in a high-cost metro area like San Francisco or New York compared to a rural area. Experience matters significantly; workers at the 90th percentile typically have 10-20+ years in the field. Industry also plays a role — the same occupation often pays differently in finance, technology, healthcare, or government. Education and certifications can boost pay, especially in fields that require advanced degrees or specialized licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between median and mean salary?
The median is the midpoint — half earn more, half earn less. The mean (average) is the total of all salaries divided by the number of workers. The median is generally more useful because it is not skewed by a small number of extremely high earners.
Do these figures include bonuses and benefits?
No. BLS OEWS data measures base wages and salaries only. It does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, stock options, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other benefits. Total compensation may be 20-40% higher than base salary.
How reliable is this data?
The BLS OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million business establishments across the U.S. and uses rigorous statistical sampling methods. It is considered one of the most reliable sources of occupational wage data available. Self-employed workers and certain agricultural positions are not included.
How often is this data updated?
The BLS publishes new OEWS data annually, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period. This page shows May 2024 data, the most recent release.