Food Preparation Workers Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in the United States was $35,320 ($16.98 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 75th | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 90th | $45,340 | $21.80 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 35-2021
- Total U.S. employment: 893,600
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What this means
Across the United States, 893,600 food preparation workers are employed (— per 1,000 jobs), making this one of the larger occupations in the national economy.
At $16.98 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $35,318 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $35,320.
Food Preparation Workers Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,930 | $13.43 | -20.9% | 17,680 |
| Alaska | $35,720 | $17.17 | +1.1% | 2,800 |
| Arizona | $36,750 | $17.67 | +4.0% | 16,590 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $13.30 | -21.7% | 5,500 |
| California | $39,350 | $18.92 | +11.4% | 112,750 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | $18.73 | +10.3% | 12,080 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 | $17.62 | +3.8% | 12,250 |
| Delaware | $35,930 | $17.28 | +1.7% | 2,400 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | $19.04 | +12.1% | 3,970 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $17.27 | +1.7% | 73,100 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $16.95 | -0.2% | 26,450 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 | $18.35 | +8.0% | 5,950 |
| Idaho | $31,510 | $15.15 | -10.8% | 4,670 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $16.75 | -1.3% | 34,820 |
| Indiana | $29,700 | $14.28 | -15.9% | 16,200 |
| Iowa | $30,360 | $14.60 | -14.0% | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $30,280 | $14.56 | -14.3% | 7,680 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 | $12.91 | -24.0% | 15,390 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $11.36 | -33.1% | 30,920 |
| Maine | $36,030 | $17.32 | +2.0% | 4,560 |
| Maryland | $35,500 | $17.07 | +0.5% | 13,280 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | $18.70 | +10.1% | 13,620 |
| Michigan | $31,180 | $14.99 | -11.7% | 17,380 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $16.76 | -1.3% | 24,620 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 | $12.61 | -25.7% | 7,870 |
| Missouri | $31,510 | $15.15 | -10.8% | 13,650 |
| Montana | $33,860 | $16.28 | -4.1% | 2,990 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 | $16.93 | -0.3% | 6,890 |
| Nevada | $33,460 | $16.09 | -5.3% | 11,420 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 | $17.68 | +4.1% | 3,420 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $17.09 | +0.6% | 24,730 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 | $16.04 | -5.5% | 6,850 |
| New York | $35,610 | $17.12 | +0.8% | 62,380 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $14.55 | -14.3% | 24,960 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 | $17.69 | +4.2% | 980 |
| Ohio | $34,530 | $16.60 | -2.2% | 19,480 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 | $13.72 | -19.2% | 7,430 |
| Oregon | $37,450 | $18.00 | +6.0% | 11,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $14.83 | -12.7% | 17,940 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 | $17.06 | +0.4% | 2,830 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 | $15.47 | -8.9% | 14,460 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 | $14.63 | -13.8% | 3,270 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $13.80 | -18.7% | 19,780 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $14.74 | -13.2% | 81,280 |
| Utah | $33,540 | $16.12 | -5.0% | 10,530 |
| Vermont | $36,550 | $17.57 | +3.5% | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $34,900 | $16.78 | -1.2% | 16,340 |
| Washington | $40,910 | $19.67 | +15.8% | 19,510 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 | $13.63 | -19.7% | 2,960 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 | $16.38 | -3.5% | 17,990 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 | $17.36 | +2.2% | 1,620 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- General and Operations Managers — $105,770/yr
- Registered Nurses — $97,550/yr
- Cashiers — $32,880/yr
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240/yr
- Stockers and Order Fillers — $37,330/yr
- Customer Service Representatives — $44,770/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for food preparation workers?
The median annual wage for food preparation workers is $35,320 ($16.98 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many food preparation workers are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 893,600 food preparation workers employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do food preparation workers make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.98. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.