393 metro areas

Food Preparation Worker Salary by City (2026)

Food preparation workers earn the most in Kahului, HI, an average of $48,150 a year, against $35,290 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($44,020 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $35,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $48,150Kahului, HI
Best after cost of living: $44,020Kahului, HI
Metro areas: 393With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Kahului, HI$48,150
San Jose, CA$45,660
Seattle, WA$44,390
Napa, CA$44,240
Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
San Francisco, CA$43,280
Bremerton, WA$42,910
Santa Cruz, CA$42,060
Boulder, CO$41,970
New Haven, CT$41,680

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for food preparation workers
Item	Value
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$48,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$45,660
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$44,390
Napa, CA	$44,240
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$43,450
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$43,280
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$42,910
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$42,060
Boulder, CO	$41,970
New Haven, CT	$41,680

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Kahului, HI$48,150 nominal$44,020
Yakima, WA$40,810 nominal$42,710
El Centro, CA$40,600 nominal$42,660
Springfield, MO$37,730 nominal$42,590
Barnstable Town, MA$41,000 nominal$41,690
Minot, ND$36,250 nominal$41,650
Pittsfield, MA$39,420 nominal$41,450
San Jose, CA$45,660 nominal$41,350
Bismarck, ND$37,460 nominal$41,150
Merced, CA$40,140 nominal$40,840

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for food preparation workers
Item	Value
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$44,020
Yakima, WA	$42,710
El Centro, CA	$42,660
Springfield, MO	$42,590
Barnstable Town, MA	$41,690
Minot, ND	$41,650
Pittsfield, MA	$41,450
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$41,350
Bismarck, ND	$41,150
Merced, CA	$40,840

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Food Preparation Worker salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Food Preparation Worker pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Kahului, HI	$48,150	$35,210	$54,540	$44,020
2	San Jose, CA	$45,660	$38,730	$49,090	$41,350
3	Seattle, WA	$44,390	$36,320	$48,360	$39,940
4	Napa, CA	$44,240	$36,940	$47,840	$39,310
5	Santa Rosa, CA	$43,450	$36,770	$46,740	$40,310
6	San Francisco, CA	$43,280	$37,110	$46,340	$37,440
7	Bremerton, WA	$42,910	$36,090	$46,280	$40,630
8	Santa Cruz, CA	$42,060	$35,940	$45,070	$38,270
9	Boulder, CO	$41,970	$34,740	$45,530	$39,890
10	New Haven, CT	$41,680	$34,670	$45,140	$39,860
11	Boston, MA-NH	$41,620	$34,880	$44,950	$38,440
12	Mount Vernon, WA	$41,410	$35,860	$44,160	$40,420
13	Portland, OR-WA	$41,410	$35,590	$44,280	$39,280
14	Vallejo, CA	$41,390	$36,000	$44,030	$38,150
15	San Luis Obispo, CA	$41,350	$35,530	$44,200	$38,080
16	Los Angeles, CA	$41,230	$36,520	$43,530	$36,300
17	Salinas, CA	$41,120	$35,690	$43,800	$37,710
18	Barnstable Town, MA	$41,000	$34,670	$44,100	$41,690
19	Bellingham, WA	$40,960	$35,420	$43,700	$39,640
20	Olympia, WA	$40,890	$35,090	$43,760	$39,440
21	San Diego, CA	$40,890	$36,320	$43,140	$36,550
22	Santa Maria, CA	$40,830	$35,380	$43,510	$37,530
23	Hanford, CA	$40,810	$35,110	$43,620	$40,160
24	Yakima, WA	$40,810	$34,780	$43,780	$42,710
25	El Centro, CA	$40,600	$34,760	$43,490	$42,660
26	Sacramento, CA	$40,600	$35,320	$43,200	$38,060
27	Riverside, CA	$40,500	$34,670	$43,370	$38,050
28	Stockton, CA	$40,500	$35,280	$43,080	$38,540
29	Denver, CO	$40,480	$32,820	$44,240	$38,270
30	Fresno, CA	$40,460	$34,590	$43,350	$39,610
31	Modesto, CA	$40,410	$34,990	$43,100	$38,820
32	Oxnard, CA	$40,350	$35,070	$42,930	$36,500
33	Bend, OR	$40,230	$33,880	$43,370	$38,830
34	Merced, CA	$40,140	$34,650	$42,850	$40,840
35	Bridgeport, CT	$40,120	$35,780	$42,270	$37,540
36	Greeley, CO	$40,080	$33,380	$43,390	$40,010
37	Urban Honolulu, HI	$40,080	$31,030	$44,530	$36,120
38	Kennewick, WA	$40,000	$35,610	$42,140	$39,970
39	Burlington, VT	$39,940	$34,530	$42,600	$39,560
40	Amherst Town, MA	$39,890	$35,030	$42,290	$39,790
41	Walla Walla, WA	$39,830	$34,720	$42,350	$40,430
42	Yuba City, CA	$39,620	$35,050	$41,870	$38,010
43	Longview, WA	$39,480	$35,280	$41,560	$40,470
44	Pittsfield, MA	$39,420	$32,820	$42,660	$41,450
45	Visalia, CA	$39,420	$34,490	$41,850	$39,490
46	Wenatchee, WA	$39,400	$34,820	$41,640	$37,940
47	Colorado Springs, CO	$39,290	$33,490	$42,160	$39,010
48	Salem, OR	$39,170	$32,970	$42,200	$37,790
49	Portland, ME	$39,100	$33,880	$41,680	$38,390
50	Spokane, WA	$39,060	$34,720	$41,200	$38,930
51	Chico, CA	$39,020	$34,490	$41,250	$38,560
52	New York, NY-NJ	$38,790	$33,920	$41,180	$34,460
53	Bakersfield, CA	$38,710	$34,530	$40,770	$38,370
54	Worcester, MA	$38,710	$33,340	$41,350	$37,760
55	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$38,690	$33,160	$41,410	$35,530
56	Norwich, CT	$38,560	$34,440	$40,580	$38,390
57	Springfield, MA	$38,520	$32,930	$41,270	$40,100
58	Phoenix, AZ	$38,500	$33,180	$41,120	$37,260
59	Redding, CA	$38,290	$34,530	$40,140	$38,030
60	Hartford, CT	$38,130	$34,340	$40,000	$37,110
61	Naples, FL	$38,130	$31,720	$41,290	$36,950
62	Bozeman, MT	$38,080	$29,700	$42,220	$37,150
63	Flagstaff, AZ	$38,020	$32,880	$40,560	$37,900
64	Albany, OR	$37,960	$32,260	$40,770	$37,180
65	Providence, RI-MA	$37,960	$32,240	$40,770	$37,300
66	Waterbury, CT	$37,900	$34,960	$39,350	$37,980
67	Ithaca, NY	$37,860	$32,780	$40,370	$36,640
68	Fort Collins, CO	$37,790	$31,970	$40,660	$37,370
69	Atlantic City, NJ	$37,770	$32,720	$40,270	$38,210
70	Springfield, MO	$37,730	$28,890	$42,100	$42,590
71	Medford, OR	$37,690	$31,820	$40,580	$37,160
72	Trenton, NJ	$37,610	$33,010	$39,870	$36,450
73	Bismarck, ND	$37,460	$31,030	$40,620	$41,150
74	Eugene, OR	$37,420	$31,870	$40,140	$36,840
75	Grants Pass, OR	$37,420	$31,950	$40,100	$38,280
76	Albany, NY	$37,270	$32,840	$39,460	$37,430
77	Columbus, OH	$37,070	$29,580	$40,750	$38,830
78	North Port, FL	$37,070	$31,840	$39,640	$36,200
79	Corvallis, OR	$37,000	$32,550	$39,190	$35,570
80	Chicago, IL-IN	$36,980	$30,930	$39,960	$35,700
81	Baltimore, MD	$36,920	$32,340	$39,170	$35,330
82	Grand Junction, CO	$36,840	$31,620	$39,420	$38,590
83	Pueblo, CO	$36,820	$30,990	$39,670	$40,130
84	Kiryas Joel, NY	$36,750	$32,860	$38,650	$33,590
85	Madison, WI	$36,750	$27,520	$41,310	$37,770
86	Anchorage, AK	$36,710	$31,280	$39,400	$34,820
87	Las Vegas, NV	$36,690	$27,460	$41,250	$36,610
88	Fairbanks, AK	$36,670	$32,200	$38,850	$35,530
89	Santa Fe, NM	$36,570	$31,950	$38,850	$37,030
90	Kingston, NY	$36,480	$32,660	$38,380	$36,220
91	Vineland, NJ	$36,480	$32,360	$38,520	$38,010
92	Carson City, NV	$36,420	$27,370	$40,870	$37,110
93	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$36,400	$30,180	$39,440	$34,730
94	Prescott Valley, AZ	$36,380	$31,780	$38,650	$37,030
95	Fargo, ND-MN	$36,360	$28,910	$40,020	$40,010
96	Lewiston, ME	$36,280	$31,700	$38,520	$38,300
97	Minot, ND	$36,250	$30,120	$39,270	$41,650
98	Bangor, ME	$36,230	$32,030	$38,290	$37,540
99	Binghamton, NY	$36,170	$32,240	$38,110	$38,950
100	Crestview, FL	$36,130	$29,390	$39,440	$37,240
101	Rochester, NY	$36,130	$32,240	$38,060	$37,230
102	Syracuse, NY	$36,070	$32,450	$37,860	$37,670
103	Tucson, AZ	$35,980	$31,570	$38,170	$37,130
104	Port St. Lucie, FL	$35,880	$30,220	$38,670	$35,800
105	Rochester, MN	$35,820	$28,540	$39,420	$39,440
106	Buffalo, NY	$35,710	$32,340	$37,400	$37,260
107	Glens Falls, NY	$35,670	$32,240	$37,340	$37,600
108	Cape Coral, FL	$35,610	$29,120	$38,790	$34,790
109	Omaha, NE-IA	$35,610	$29,370	$38,690	$38,740
110	Jacksonville, FL	$35,550	$29,740	$38,420	$35,730
111	Dover, DE	$35,510	$31,470	$37,500	$36,420
112	Miami, FL	$35,510	$29,450	$38,480	$31,110
113	Sebastian, FL	$35,510	$30,220	$38,080	$36,120
114	Toledo, OH	$35,460	$27,730	$39,270	$38,770
115	Punta Gorda, FL	$35,440	$29,830	$38,210	$35,250
116	Yuma, AZ	$35,440	$31,010	$37,610	$38,230
117	Tampa, FL	$35,420	$29,470	$38,360	$35,110
118	Manchester, NH	$35,400	$26,850	$39,600	$33,500
119	Atlanta, GA	$35,380	$28,410	$38,830	$35,360
120	Lincoln, NE	$35,300	$30,620	$37,610	$38,550
121	Cleveland, OH	$35,240	$27,810	$38,900	$37,520
122	Elmira, NY	$35,210	$32,240	$36,690	$37,300
123	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$35,210	$28,720	$38,400	$40,630
124	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$35,210	$31,990	$36,820	$37,420
125	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$35,190	$26,000	$39,730	$35,800
126	Charleston, SC	$35,170	$26,890	$39,250	$34,830
127	Charlottesville, VA	$35,110	$29,810	$37,730	$35,410
128	Lexington Park, MD	$35,090	$31,370	$36,920	$34,830
129	Milwaukee, WI	$35,070	$28,020	$38,540	$36,180
130	Iowa City, IA	$34,960	$27,330	$38,730	$38,200
131	Palm Bay, FL	$34,940	$28,540	$38,080	$34,940
132	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$34,940	$28,770	$38,000	$34,070
133	Utica, NY	$34,840	$32,240	$36,110	$37,590
134	Des Moines, IA	$34,780	$27,750	$38,250	$37,930
135	Salt Lake City, UT	$34,780	$27,370	$38,420	$34,480
136	Watertown, NY	$34,760	$32,240	$35,980	$39,640
137	Akron, OH	$34,650	$27,040	$38,420	$37,110
138	Orlando, FL	$34,590	$28,790	$37,460	$34,110
139	Austin, TX	$34,550	$26,480	$38,520	$35,230
140	Reno, NV	$34,550	$27,140	$38,190	$34,200
141	Kenosha, WI	$34,490	$26,670	$38,330	$34,110
142	Cheyenne, WY	$34,440	$24,150	$39,520	$35,690
143	Durham, NC	$34,440	$26,810	$38,210	$35,300
144	Ogden, UT	$34,420	$26,620	$38,270	$34,300
145	Decatur, IL	$34,380	$31,280	$35,920	$38,880
146	Deltona, FL	$34,380	$29,620	$36,710	$34,600
147	Nashville, TN	$34,380	$26,150	$38,440	$35,690
148	Wildwood, FL	$34,380	$29,060	$37,000	$40,250
149	St. Louis, MO-IL	$34,360	$30,100	$36,460	$36,130
150	Grand Island, NE	$34,340	$29,040	$36,940	$39,630
151	Rockford, IL	$34,340	$31,240	$35,860	$37,260
152	Hilton Head Island, SC	$34,320	$25,540	$38,650	$35,010
153	Gainesville, GA	$34,260	$27,370	$37,650	$35,400
154	Gainesville, FL	$34,240	$29,000	$36,820	$35,400
155	Missoula, MT	$34,220	$27,080	$37,730	$35,480
156	St. Cloud, MN	$34,220	$28,390	$37,090	$39,050
157	Champaign, IL	$34,170	$31,200	$35,650	$36,860
158	Kansas City, MO-KS	$34,170	$27,930	$37,250	$36,920
159	Ann Arbor, MI	$34,150	$27,830	$37,270	$33,850
160	St. George, UT	$34,150	$26,150	$38,110	$35,090
161	Richmond, VA	$34,110	$29,700	$36,300	$34,860
162	Peoria, IL	$34,050	$31,200	$35,460	$37,320
163	Sierra Vista, AZ	$34,050	$30,970	$35,570	$38,150
164	Billings, MT	$34,030	$26,440	$37,770	$36,390
165	Dubuque, IA	$34,030	$27,710	$37,130	$38,970
166	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$34,030	$29,160	$36,440	$34,750
167	Casper, WY	$34,010	$27,290	$37,320	$36,250
168	Allentown, PA-NJ	$33,970	$27,830	$37,000	$33,980
169	Lewiston, ID-WA	$33,970	$25,330	$38,210	$37,260
170	Boise City, ID	$33,950	$25,460	$38,110	$34,510
171	Provo, UT	$33,920	$25,440	$38,110	$34,530
172	Panama City, FL	$33,860	$28,200	$36,630	$34,800
173	Pensacola, FL	$33,860	$28,810	$36,340	$34,650
174	Springfield, IL	$33,860	$31,200	$35,150	$36,510
175	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$33,840	$26,040	$37,690	$35,480
176	Duluth, MN-WI	$33,840	$27,500	$36,960	$38,120
177	Dayton, OH	$33,820	$27,250	$37,070	$36,490
178	Mankato, MN	$33,820	$27,980	$36,690	$37,180
179	Albuquerque, NM	$33,800	$28,370	$36,480	$35,380
180	Ocala, FL	$33,800	$28,350	$36,480	$35,490
181	Appleton, WI	$33,740	$25,850	$37,630	$36,510
182	Salisbury, MD	$33,720	$31,200	$34,940	$35,270
183	Winchester, VA-WV	$33,720	$27,910	$36,570	$34,960
184	Midland, TX	$33,700	$26,500	$37,250	$35,180
185	Sandusky, OH	$33,700	$27,480	$36,770	$37,750
186	Detroit, MI	$33,680	$28,100	$36,440	$33,580
187	Harrisonburg, VA	$33,630	$28,430	$36,190	$35,440
188	Staunton, VA	$33,630	$28,790	$36,000	$36,900
189	Bloomington, IL	$33,590	$31,200	$34,780	$35,910
190	Homosassa Springs, FL	$33,550	$28,330	$36,110	$35,900
191	La Crosse, WI-MN	$33,550	$25,830	$37,340	$36,560
192	Lakeland, FL	$33,550	$28,250	$36,170	$34,540
193	Kankakee, IL	$33,530	$31,200	$34,670	$34,780
194	Oshkosh, WI	$33,490	$26,690	$36,860	$36,040
195	Helena, MT	$33,450	$26,440	$36,900	$34,960
196	Grand Rapids, MI	$33,320	$27,270	$36,300	$34,870
197	Charlotte, NC-SC	$33,300	$24,590	$37,610	$34,210
198	Savannah, GA	$33,280	$26,330	$36,710	$34,960
199	Sheboygan, WI	$33,280	$25,880	$36,940	$35,400
200	Traverse City, MI	$33,280	$27,140	$36,320	$35,640
201	Houston, TX	$33,220	$25,130	$37,210	$33,680
202	College Station, TX	$33,200	$25,190	$37,150	$36,500
203	Eau Claire, WI	$33,200	$25,730	$36,860	$35,780
204	Springfield, OH	$33,180	$26,170	$36,630	$36,670
205	Wilmington, NC	$33,110	$25,460	$36,880	$34,340
206	Canton, OH	$33,090	$26,100	$36,550	$37,010
207	Asheville, NC	$32,970	$26,980	$35,940	$34,160
208	Dallas, TX	$32,970	$26,000	$36,380	$31,980
209	Elkhart, IN	$32,970	$27,000	$35,900	$36,500
210	San Antonio, TX	$32,910	$25,230	$36,690	$34,750
211	Joplin, MO-KS	$32,860	$28,450	$35,030	$38,340
212	Jefferson City, MO	$32,840	$28,600	$34,940	$37,330
213	Tallahassee, FL	$32,780	$27,500	$35,400	$34,900
214	Janesville, WI	$32,760	$25,380	$36,400	$34,960
215	Kalamazoo, MI	$32,680	$26,600	$35,670	$34,460
216	Indianapolis, IN	$32,660	$25,290	$36,300	$34,130
217	Davenport, IA-IL	$32,640	$28,700	$34,590	$36,640
218	Las Cruces, NM	$32,590	$29,040	$34,340	$36,130
219	Mansfield, OH	$32,570	$25,630	$36,000	$36,650
220	Wausau, WI	$32,570	$25,230	$36,190	$35,150
221	Ames, IA	$32,550	$27,230	$35,190	$36,640
222	Green Bay, WI	$32,550	$24,110	$36,690	$34,970
223	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$32,550	$26,870	$35,340	$34,560
224	Sebring, FL	$32,510	$27,750	$34,860	$35,160
225	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$32,510	$27,580	$34,940	$37,600
226	Winston, NC	$32,490	$25,920	$35,710	$35,300
227	Columbia, MO	$32,430	$28,620	$34,300	$36,260
228	Fond du Lac, WI	$32,430	$25,440	$35,860	$35,390
229	Lima, OH	$32,430	$26,170	$35,510	$36,170
230	Reading, PA	$32,410	$25,190	$35,960	$33,390
231	Waterloo, IA	$32,320	$25,290	$35,800	$37,130
232	Jackson, MI	$32,280	$26,770	$34,990	$35,170
233	Lancaster, PA	$32,240	$25,670	$35,480	$32,810
234	Flint, MI	$32,220	$26,640	$34,960	$34,630
235	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$32,200	$28,500	$34,030	$37,280
236	Warner Robins, GA	$32,200	$25,080	$35,690	$34,330
237	Topeka, KS	$32,180	$25,380	$35,510	$36,230
238	Fayetteville, AR	$32,070	$26,830	$34,650	$35,110
239	Harrisburg, PA	$32,070	$25,670	$35,210	$32,510
240	Columbus, IN	$32,050	$25,650	$35,210	$34,460
241	Racine, WI	$32,030	$25,170	$35,420	$33,380
242	Wichita Falls, TX	$32,030	$23,750	$36,130	$35,780
243	Greensboro, NC	$31,930	$25,460	$35,110	$34,380
244	Cedar Rapids, IA	$31,910	$25,690	$34,990	$35,870
245	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$31,910	$27,680	$33,970	$35,210
246	Farmington, NM	$31,870	$27,390	$34,070	$36,340
247	Fort Wayne, IN	$31,840	$23,750	$35,820	$34,390
248	Idaho Falls, ID	$31,820	$23,800	$35,780	$33,700
249	Myrtle Beach, SC	$31,820	$23,690	$35,820	$33,980
250	Odessa, TX	$31,820	$24,670	$35,360	$33,890
251	Lansing, MI	$31,800	$26,580	$34,380	$33,480
252	Logan, UT-ID	$31,800	$25,290	$35,030	$33,150
253	South Bend, IN-MI	$31,800	$25,480	$34,920	$34,250
254	Twin Falls, ID	$31,800	$24,630	$35,340	$34,520
255	Youngstown, OH	$31,760	$25,440	$34,880	$36,340
256	Augusta, GA-SC	$31,740	$24,460	$35,340	$34,540
257	Roanoke, VA	$31,740	$27,810	$33,680	$33,900
258	York, PA	$31,740	$24,750	$35,190	$33,060
259	Kokomo, IN	$31,720	$25,380	$34,840	$35,380
260	Lebanon, PA	$31,720	$25,060	$35,010	$34,030
261	Gettysburg, PA	$31,700	$24,980	$35,010	$33,240
262	Greenville, SC	$31,680	$24,480	$35,210	$33,970
263	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$31,570	$23,340	$35,630	$33,920
264	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$31,550	$28,600	$33,010	$36,650
265	Killeen, TX	$31,510	$23,500	$35,460	$34,580
266	State College, PA	$31,510	$24,630	$34,900	$32,560
267	Niles, MI	$31,490	$26,810	$33,780	$34,090
268	Muskegon, MI	$31,470	$26,420	$33,970	$34,010
269	Columbia, SC	$31,450	$24,360	$34,940	$33,580
270	Macon, GA	$31,450	$24,630	$34,800	$35,530
271	Spartanburg, SC	$31,450	$24,250	$35,010	$34,540
272	Athens, GA	$31,430	$24,770	$34,720	$33,670
273	Rapid City, SD	$31,430	$26,750	$33,740	$35,250
274	Blacksburg, VA	$31,410	$27,870	$33,160	$33,880
275	Brunswick, GA	$31,410	$25,000	$34,550	$35,810
276	Lynchburg, VA	$31,390	$27,850	$33,110	$35,130
277	Lawrence, KS	$31,300	$24,650	$34,570	$34,680
278	Bloomington, IN	$31,240	$24,440	$34,590	$32,860
279	Great Falls, MT	$31,220	$25,270	$34,150	$32,240
280	Knoxville, TN	$31,220	$23,610	$34,990	$33,730
281	Wichita, KS	$31,200	$24,130	$34,690	$35,080
282	Raleigh, NC	$31,160	$23,130	$35,130	$31,750
283	Lafayette, IN	$31,050	$23,900	$34,590	$33,230
284	Monroe, MI	$31,010	$26,750	$33,090	$33,170
285	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$30,910	$23,210	$34,690	$33,790
286	Erie, PA	$30,910	$24,750	$33,950	$33,990
287	Pocatello, ID	$30,890	$23,500	$34,530	$34,740
288	Pittsburgh, PA	$30,870	$22,630	$34,920	$32,610
289	Albany, GA	$30,720	$23,770	$34,150	$35,040
290	Burlington, NC	$30,720	$24,110	$33,990	$32,960
291	Altoona, PA	$30,660	$24,380	$33,760	$34,250
292	Oklahoma City, OK	$30,620	$24,110	$33,840	$33,870
293	Hinesville, GA	$30,600	$24,420	$33,610	$32,580
294	Huntsville, AL	$30,600	$22,690	$34,490	$32,880
295	Battle Creek, MI	$30,490	$26,270	$32,550	$33,680
296	Waco, TX	$30,450	$24,460	$33,380	$32,900
297	Rome, GA	$30,430	$24,380	$33,400	$33,750
298	Tulsa, OK	$30,430	$23,590	$33,800	$34,110
299	Amarillo, TX	$30,390	$23,820	$33,630	$33,100
300	Birmingham, AL	$30,240	$22,130	$34,240	$33,000
301	Little Rock, AR	$30,240	$25,650	$32,530	$33,840
302	Beaumont, TX	$30,200	$23,190	$33,630	$33,540
303	Morgantown, WV	$30,140	$24,840	$32,760	$32,300
304	Saginaw, MI	$30,100	$25,980	$32,120	$33,120
305	Wheeling, WV-OH	$30,080	$24,380	$32,880	$34,060
306	Evansville, IN	$30,040	$23,920	$33,050	$32,820
307	Michigan City, IN	$30,040	$24,420	$32,780	$32,770
308	Scranton, PA	$30,040	$24,210	$32,930	$32,110
309	Bay City, MI	$30,010	$25,960	$32,010	$32,650
310	Chambersburg, PA	$29,990	$23,460	$33,200	$31,690
311	Pinehurst, NC	$29,970	$23,590	$33,110	$33,930
312	Dalton, GA	$29,930	$23,460	$33,110	$33,310
313	Sherman, TX	$29,930	$22,860	$33,430	$31,920
314	Midland, MI	$29,910	$26,120	$31,780	$32,540
315	San Angelo, TX	$29,810	$23,480	$32,930	$32,240
316	Greenville, NC	$29,720	$22,920	$33,070	$33,620
317	Terre Haute, IN	$29,580	$23,230	$32,720	$33,690
318	Victoria, TX	$29,450	$21,420	$33,380	$32,780
319	Laredo, TX	$29,370	$21,220	$33,400	$33,780
320	Manhattan, KS	$29,370	$22,860	$32,590	$32,570
321	Muncie, IN	$29,350	$23,610	$32,180	$33,300
322	Lubbock, TX	$29,330	$22,190	$32,840	$32,120
323	Williamsport, PA	$29,290	$23,630	$32,070	$31,720
324	Abilene, TX	$29,220	$22,780	$32,390	$32,340
325	Jonesboro, AR	$29,220	$24,900	$31,350	$34,030
326	Lexington, KY	$29,220	$22,530	$32,530	$31,460
327	Florence, SC	$29,200	$23,770	$31,890	$33,650
328	Valdosta, GA	$29,180	$23,070	$32,180	$33,060
329	Rocky Mount, NC	$29,160	$22,710	$32,320	$33,130
330	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$29,140	$22,190	$32,550	$31,610
331	Corpus Christi, TX	$29,100	$20,880	$33,160	$31,400
332	Hattiesburg, MS	$29,100	$20,630	$33,260	$33,210
333	Tyler, TX	$29,020	$22,840	$32,050	$31,490
334	Daphne, AL	$28,970	$21,260	$32,780	$30,590
335	Hickory, NC	$28,970	$22,570	$32,140	$32,740
336	Weirton, WV-OH	$28,930	$23,190	$31,740	$32,500
337	McAllen, TX	$28,830	$21,010	$32,680	$33,560
338	Charleston, WV	$28,750	$22,280	$31,930	$32,410
339	Eagle Pass, TX	$28,750	$20,900	$32,610	$34,310
340	Decatur, AL	$28,680	$21,400	$32,280	$32,890
341	Kingsport, TN-VA	$28,680	$23,340	$31,300	$33,180
342	Fayetteville, NC	$28,620	$22,050	$31,870	$31,120
343	Tuscaloosa, AL	$28,600	$20,880	$32,410	$32,600
344	Auburn, AL	$28,560	$21,010	$32,280	$32,480
345	Columbus, GA-AL	$28,560	$21,280	$32,160	$31,980
346	Paducah, KY-IL	$28,500	$21,590	$31,890	$33,110
347	Mobile, AL	$28,390	$21,170	$31,970	$32,230
348	Clarksville, TN-KY	$28,310	$21,470	$31,680	$31,130
349	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$28,310	$23,900	$30,470	$32,960
350	Goldsboro, NC	$28,310	$21,650	$31,570	$32,000
351	Owensboro, KY	$28,230	$21,630	$31,470	$31,860
352	Hot Springs, AR	$28,200	$23,980	$30,310	$32,890
353	Jackson, TN	$28,200	$22,280	$31,120	$32,970
354	Lawton, OK	$28,020	$20,320	$31,800	$32,600
355	Bowling Green, KY	$28,000	$21,110	$31,390	$31,050
356	Cleveland, TN	$27,960	$21,300	$31,240	$31,740
357	Beckley, WV	$27,910	$21,760	$30,950	$31,580
358	Texarkana, TX-AR	$27,810	$22,510	$30,430	$33,100
359	Parkersburg, WV	$27,750	$21,760	$30,680	$31,870
360	Jacksonville, NC	$27,730	$20,970	$31,080	$30,110
361	Johnson City, TN	$27,710	$21,780	$30,620	$31,510
362	Jackson, MS	$27,540	$19,610	$31,450	$30,930
363	Morristown, TN	$27,480	$21,960	$30,200	$31,820
364	Sumter, SC	$27,460	$20,160	$31,050	$31,200
365	Longview, TX	$27,440	$21,780	$30,220	$30,660
366	Florence, AL	$27,410	$20,220	$30,950	$32,320
367	Brownsville, TX	$27,370	$20,780	$30,620	$31,830
368	Montgomery, AL	$27,210	$20,510	$30,490	$30,340
369	New Orleans, LA	$27,140	$20,110	$30,620	$29,310
370	El Paso, TX	$26,920	$20,050	$30,310	$29,940
371	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$26,870	$20,740	$29,890	$30,390
372	Gulfport, MS	$26,670	$20,510	$29,700	$29,630
373	Elizabethtown, KY	$26,640	$21,170	$29,350	$29,410
374	Anniston, AL	$26,580	$20,070	$29,790	$30,930
375	Gadsden, AL	$26,520	$19,280	$30,100	$30,960
376	Dothan, AL	$26,440	$20,050	$29,600	$31,540
377	Slidell, LA	$26,370	$19,950	$29,540	$28,440
378	Lake Charles, LA	$26,190	$19,700	$29,370	$30,510
379	Baton Rouge, LA	$25,960	$20,530	$28,620	$28,600
380	Shreveport, LA	$25,750	$18,990	$29,080	$30,380
381	Johnstown, PA	$25,290	$19,880	$27,960	$29,430
382	Lafayette, LA	$24,860	$18,950	$27,770	$28,510
383	Enid, OK	$24,790	$19,700	$27,310	$29,420
384	Hammond, LA	$24,790	$18,720	$27,790	$29,350
385	Monroe, LA	$24,520	$18,970	$27,250	$29,330
386	Houma, LA	$24,150	$18,890	$26,730	$28,380
387	San Juan, PR	$24,150	$21,840	$25,270	N/A
388	Arecibo, PR	$23,190	$21,900	$23,820	N/A
389	Ponce, PR	$23,130	$21,840	$23,770	N/A
390	Alexandria, LA	$22,980	$18,240	$25,310	$26,820
391	Aguadilla, PR	$22,570	$21,860	$22,920	N/A
392	Guayama, PR	$22,530	$21,840	$22,860	N/A
393	Mayaguez, PR	$22,480	$21,840	$22,800	N/A

More on food preparation workers

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Food Preparation Worker salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays food preparation workers the most?

Kahului, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $48,150 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($45,660), Seattle, WA ($44,390), Napa, CA ($44,240). The national mean is $35,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do food preparation workers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($44,020 at national prices, $48,150 nominal), Yakima, WA ($42,710 at national prices, $40,810 nominal), El Centro, CA ($42,660 at national prices, $40,600 nominal).

How much do food preparation workers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $38,790; Los Angeles, CA: $41,230; Chicago, IL-IN: $36,980; Dallas, TX: $32,970; Houston, TX: $33,220 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do food preparation workers earn the least?

Of the 393 metro areas with their own estimate, Mayaguez, PR has the lowest mean wage, $22,480.