Food Preparation Workers Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in California was $39,350 +11.4% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $18.92 | $16.98 |
| Employment | 112,750 | 893,600 |
| Location quotient | 1.08 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What this means
Employment density in California is 1.08x the national average — a above-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
At $18.92 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $39,354 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $39,350.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average food preparation workers salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $39,350 ($18.92 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
The California median of $39,350 is 11.4% higher than the U.S. median of $35,320.
How many food preparation workers work in California?
Approximately 112,750 are employed in California, per BLS OES.