Food Preparation Workers Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$30,617
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$45,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Food Preparation Workers Do?
Food Preparation Workers play an essential role in the food service industry, from preparing ingredients and cooking dishes to serving customers and maintaining clean, safe kitchen environments.
Most work in restaurant kitchens, cafeterias, or food service establishments. Hours are often long and irregular, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Kitchens can be hot, fast-paced, and physically demanding.
Key Skills for Food Preparation Workers
Cooking TechniquesTime ManagementTeamworkCustomer ServiceMenu KnowledgePhysical Stamina
Education Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent; culinary degree for advanced roles
Many positions require little formal education beyond a high school diploma. Chefs and head cooks often benefit from culinary school training or apprenticeships. On-the-job training is common across all levels.
Career Outlook
Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, driven by continued demand for dining out and food delivery services.
How to Increase Your Food Preparation Workers Salary
- 1.Develop expertise in a culinary specialty (pastry, international cuisine, etc.)
- 2.Build management skills to advance to head chef or restaurant manager
- 3.Stay current with food trends and dietary preferences
- 4.Consider catering or private chef work for higher earning potential
- 5.Build a reputation through competitions, social media, or food publications
Food Preparation Workers Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $45,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $55,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,000 | $48,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $39,000 | $43,000 | $27,000 - $48,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $38,000 | $40,000 | $27,000 - $47,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $38,000 | $39,000 | $27,000 - $47,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $37,000 | $41,000 | $26,000 - $45,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $36,000 | $37,000 | $25,000 - $44,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $35,000 | $36,000 | $24,000 - $43,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $35,000 | $36,000 | $24,000 - $43,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $35,000 | $37,000 | $24,000 - $43,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $34,000 | $36,000 | $24,000 - $42,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $33,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $33,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $33,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $33,000 | $34,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $33,000 | $34,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $33,000 | $36,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $32,000 | $36,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $32,000 | $33,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $32,000 | $33,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $32,000 | $35,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $31,000 | $32,000 | $22,000 - $38,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $31,000 | $34,000 | $22,000 - $38,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $31,000 | $32,000 | $22,000 - $38,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $31,000 | $32,000 | $22,000 - $38,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $31,000 | $32,000 | $22,000 - $38,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $30,000 | $31,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $30,000 | $33,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $30,000 | $32,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $30,000 | $31,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,000 | $33,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $30,000 | $32,000 | $21,000 - $37,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $29,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $29,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $29,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $29,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $29,000 | $32,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $29,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $29,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $29,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $29,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $29,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $29,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $36,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $28,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $34,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $34,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $28,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $34,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $28,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $34,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $28,000 | $31,000 | $20,000 - $34,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $27,000 | $29,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $27,000 | $29,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $27,000 | $30,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $27,000 | $29,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $27,000 | $29,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $27,000 | $28,000 | $19,000 - $33,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $26,000 | $28,000 | $18,000 - $32,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $24,000 | $25,000 | $17,000 - $29,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $23,000 | $25,000 | $16,000 - $28,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $23,000 | $25,000 | $16,000 - $28,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $22,000 | $23,000 | $15,000 - $27,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $22,000 | $23,000 | $15,000 - $27,000 | CAD | Apply |