Food Preparation Workers pay in the United States
What this work is
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Washington pays the highest headline figure at $40,910. Adjusted for what things cost there it is worth $38,230 — less than North Dakota, where $36,800 is worth $41,366.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $17.69/hr | $36,800 | $41,366 | $36,800 | 980 |
| Nebraska | $16.93/hr | $35,210 | $39,078 | $34,265 | 6,890 |
| Wyoming | $17.36/hr | $36,110 | $38,957 | $36,110 | 1,620 |
| Washington | $19.67/hr | $40,910 | $38,230 | $40,910 | 19,510 |
| Colorado | $18.73/hr | $38,960 | $37,806 | $37,924 | 12,080 |
| Vermont | $17.57/hr | $36,550 | $37,311 | $35,560 | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $16.60/hr | $34,530 | $37,221 | $34,296 | 19,480 |
| Maine | $17.32/hr | $36,030 | $37,125 | $34,787 | 4,560 |
| Massachusetts | $18.70/hr | $38,900 | $36,781 | $36,955 | 13,620 |
| Georgia | $16.95/hr | $35,250 | $36,608 | $34,043 | 26,450 |
| Arizona | $17.67/hr | $36,750 | $36,501 | $36,196 | 16,590 |
| Oregon | $18.00/hr | $37,450 | $36,232 | $34,714 | 11,860 |
| Wisconsin | $16.38/hr | $34,070 | $36,206 | $33,285 | 17,990 |
| New Mexico | $16.04/hr | $33,370 | $36,189 | $32,817 | 6,850 |
| District of Columbia | $19.04/hr | $39,600 | $36,032 | $38,300 | 3,970 |
| Delaware | $17.28/hr | $35,930 | $35,998 | $34,502 | 2,400 |
| Montana | $16.28/hr | $33,860 | $35,773 | $32,954 | 2,990 |
| California | $18.92/hr | $39,350 | $35,540 | $38,615 | 112,750 |
| Connecticut | $17.62/hr | $36,650 | $35,373 | $35,250 | 12,250 |
| Minnesota | $16.76/hr | $34,850 | $35,337 | $33,765 | 24,620 |
| New Hampshire | $17.68/hr | $36,780 | $35,307 | $36,780 | 3,420 |
| Alaska | $17.17/hr | $35,720 | $34,896 | $35,720 | 2,800 |
| Illinois | $16.75/hr | $34,850 | $34,863 | $33,262 | 34,820 |
| Florida | $17.27/hr | $35,920 | $34,735 | $35,920 | 73,100 |
| Hawaii | $18.35/hr | $38,160 | $34,706 | $36,637 | 5,950 |
| Missouri | $15.15/hr | $31,510 | $34,695 | $30,885 | 13,650 |
| Rhode Island | $17.06/hr | $35,470 | $34,679 | $34,535 | 2,830 |
| Iowa | $14.60/hr | $30,360 | $34,594 | $29,761 | 4,170 |
| Virginia | $16.78/hr | $34,900 | $34,520 | $33,639 | 16,340 |
| South Dakota | $14.63/hr | $30,430 | $34,349 | $30,430 | 3,270 |
| South Carolina | $15.47/hr | $32,180 | $34,325 | $31,759 | 14,460 |
| Utah | $16.12/hr | $33,540 | $33,926 | $32,013 | 10,530 |
| Maryland | $17.07/hr | $35,500 | $33,822 | $33,994 | 13,280 |
| Kansas | $14.56/hr | $30,280 | $33,618 | $28,878 | 7,680 |
| Nevada | $16.09/hr | $33,460 | $33,466 | $33,460 | 11,420 |
| Idaho | $15.15/hr | $31,510 | $32,998 | $30,613 | 4,670 |
| New York | $17.12/hr | $35,610 | $32,996 | $34,256 | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $17.09/hr | $35,540 | $32,662 | $34,978 | 24,730 |
| Oklahoma | $13.72/hr | $28,540 | $32,490 | $27,674 | 7,430 |
| Michigan | $14.99/hr | $31,180 | $32,404 | $30,092 | 17,380 |
| North Carolina | $14.55/hr | $30,260 | $32,078 | $29,515 | 24,960 |
| Indiana | $14.28/hr | $29,700 | $31,822 | $28,839 | 16,200 |
| Arkansas | $13.30/hr | $27,660 | $31,815 | $26,758 | 5,500 |
| West Virginia | $13.63/hr | $28,360 | $31,687 | $27,582 | 2,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.83/hr | $30,840 | $31,608 | $29,893 | 17,940 |
| Texas | $14.74/hr | $30,650 | $31,578 | $30,650 | 81,280 |
| Alabama | $13.43/hr | $27,930 | $31,445 | $26,723 | 17,680 |
| Tennessee | $13.80/hr | $28,700 | $31,239 | $28,700 | 19,780 |
| Mississippi | $12.61/hr | $26,240 | $30,178 | $25,186 | 7,870 |
| Kentucky | $12.91/hr | $26,850 | $29,780 | $25,902 | 15,390 |
| Louisiana | $11.36/hr | $23,620 | $26,777 | $23,286 | 30,920 |
| Virgin Islands | $14.64/hr | $30,460 | Not published | Not published | 390 |
| Puerto Rico | $10.77/hr | $22,400 | Not published | Not published | 4,130 |
| Guam | $10.49/hr | $21,820 | Not published | Not published | 530 |
National median for comparison: $35,320. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$16.98/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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