Food Preparation Workers Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
BLS OES May 2025 · SOC 35-2021$35,320
US median (annual)
$35,290
US mean (annual)
$25,810
10th percentile
$45,340
90th percentile
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for food preparation workers in the United States is $35,320 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 894,000 people are employed in this occupation nationally. UK data is not available for this occupation — the UK's SOC 2020 classification has no direct equivalent. Before interviews, many candidates work through interview preparation guides for this kind of role.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,810 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $29,950 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $35,320 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $38,550 | Experienced |
| 90th | $45,340 | Senior / highest decile |
Career Essentials
AMAZON
Food Preparation Workers interview questions
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | $42,660 | 20,000 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | $41,350 | 4,000 |
| California | $39,350 | $41,480 | 113,000 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | $40,210 | 12,000 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | $41,030 | 14,000 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 | $41,670 | 6,000 |
| Oregon | $37,450 | $39,510 | 12,000 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 | $36,210 | 980 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 | $36,440 | 3,000 |
| Arizona | $36,750 | $37,810 | 17,000 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 | $39,290 | 12,000 |
| Vermont | $36,550 | $38,850 | 1,000 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 | $35,210 | 2,000 |
| Maine | $36,030 | $37,470 | 5,000 |
| Delaware | $35,930 | $36,360 | 2,000 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $35,210 | 73,000 |
| Alaska | $35,720 | $37,230 | 3,000 |
| New York | $35,610 | $38,310 | 62,000 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $37,680 | 25,000 |
| Maryland | $35,500 | $37,090 | 13,000 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 | $37,910 | 3,000 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $33,970 | 26,000 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 | $34,880 | 7,000 |
| Virginia | $34,900 | $34,930 | 16,000 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $36,260 | 35,000 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $35,610 | 25,000 |
| Ohio | $34,530 | $34,560 | 19,000 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 | $34,000 | 18,000 |
| Montana | $33,860 | $33,700 | 3,000 |
| Utah | $33,540 | $34,580 | 11,000 |
| Nevada | $33,460 | $36,290 | 11,000 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 | $32,880 | 7,000 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 | $32,300 | 14,000 |
| Idaho | $31,510 | $32,380 | 5,000 |
| Missouri | $31,510 | $34,040 | 14,000 |
| Michigan | $31,180 | $32,720 | 17,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 | $31,880 | 18,000 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $32,120 | 81,000 |
| Virgin Islands | $30,460 | $30,160 | 390 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 | $31,630 | 3,000 |
| Iowa | $30,360 | $32,080 | 4,000 |
| Kansas | $30,280 | $31,460 | 8,000 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $31,270 | 25,000 |
| Indiana | $29,700 | $31,560 | 16,000 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $30,860 | 20,000 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 | $28,710 | 7,000 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 | $28,450 | 3,000 |
| Alabama | $27,930 | $28,460 | 18,000 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $29,460 | 6,000 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 | $28,760 | 15,000 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 | $26,750 | 8,000 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $25,580 | 31,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,400 | $23,720 | 4,000 |
| Guam | $21,820 | $22,470 | 530 |
Salary data is sourced from BLS OES May 2025. Figures represent gross pay before tax. This page is for reference only.
Recommended Gear & Prep
Negotiating the offer? A salary negotiation guide helps you anchor to the percentiles above.
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-07-18