Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Food preparation workers (SOC 35-2021) employed 893,600 people in May 2025. The median pay is $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $25,810 and the highest-paid 10% more than $45,340. BLS projects its employment to change by -3.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 135,700 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Washington ($40,910), District of Columbia ($39,600), California ($39,350). Most jobs: California (112,750), Texas (81,280), Florida (73,100).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th percentile | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Mean | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 75th percentile | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $45,340 | $21.80 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 908,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 881,300 |
| Change in jobs | -27,200 |
| Percent change | -3.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 135,700 |
| Self-employed share | 1.0% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17,680 | 1.46 | $27,930 | $20,820 | $37,580 | -21% | 46% |
| Alaska | 2,800 | 1.50 | $35,720 | $30,350 | $46,440 | +1% | 49% |
| Arizona | 16,590 | 0.89 | $36,750 | $31,300 | $44,640 | +4% | 55% |
| Arkansas | 5,500 | 0.73 | $27,660 | $24,020 | $36,260 | -22% | 43% |
| California | 112,750 | 1.08 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | +11% | 64% |
| Colorado | 12,080 | 0.73 | $38,960 | $30,800 | $49,000 | +10% | 56% |
| Connecticut | 12,250 | 1.26 | $36,650 | $34,010 | $47,790 | +4% | 51% |
| Delaware | 2,400 | 0.86 | $35,930 | $31,200 | $43,070 | +2% | 51% |
| District of Columbia | 3,970 | 0.98 | $39,600 | $37,510 | $45,370 | +12% | 59% |
| Florida | 73,100 | 1.28 | $35,920 | $28,190 | $43,300 | +2% | 61% |
| Georgia | 26,450 | 0.94 | $35,250 | $24,840 | $40,390 | -0% | 51% |
| Hawaii | 5,950 | 1.65 | $38,160 | $29,950 | $57,720 | +8% | 61% |
| Idaho | 4,670 | 0.95 | $31,510 | $22,150 | $40,260 | -11% | 53% |
| Illinois | 34,820 | 0.99 | $34,850 | $31,200 | $44,990 | -1% | 46% |
| Indiana | 16,200 | 0.88 | $29,700 | $23,170 | $39,050 | -16% | 45% |
| Iowa | 4,170 | 0.47 | $30,360 | $23,760 | $40,250 | -14% | 39% |
| Kansas | 7,680 | 0.93 | $30,280 | $22,880 | $39,220 | -14% | 43% |
| Kentucky | 15,390 | 1.34 | $26,850 | $20,900 | $37,830 | -24% | 45% |
| Louisiana | 30,920 | 2.78 | $23,620 | $17,970 | $34,190 | -33% | 54% |
| Maine | 4,560 | 1.24 | $36,030 | $31,150 | $46,400 | +2% | 40% |
| Maryland | 13,280 | 0.84 | $35,500 | $31,290 | $45,890 | +1% | 58% |
| Massachusetts | 13,620 | 0.65 | $38,900 | $34,280 | $48,420 | +10% | 57% |
| Michigan | 17,380 | 0.69 | $31,180 | $26,540 | $38,620 | -12% | 45% |
| Minnesota | 24,620 | 1.45 | $34,850 | $29,150 | $45,790 | -1% | 44% |
| Mississippi | 7,870 | 1.18 | $26,240 | $18,790 | $36,100 | -26% | 45% |
| Missouri | 13,650 | 0.81 | $31,510 | $28,600 | $44,440 | -11% | 41% |
| Montana | 2,990 | 1.02 | $33,860 | $26,000 | $43,410 | -4% | 42% |
| Nebraska | 6,890 | 1.17 | $35,210 | $28,740 | $42,560 | -0% | 38% |
| Nevada | 11,420 | 1.28 | $33,460 | $26,140 | $50,600 | -5% | 61% |
| New Hampshire | 3,420 | 0.87 | $36,780 | $26,830 | $45,980 | +4% | 51% |
| New Jersey | 24,730 | 1.00 | $35,540 | $32,220 | $46,070 | +1% | 61% |
| New Mexico | 6,850 | 1.37 | $33,370 | $27,290 | $38,200 | -6% | 40% |
| New York | 62,380 | 1.12 | $35,610 | $33,280 | $46,800 | +1% | 55% |
| North Carolina | 24,960 | 0.88 | $30,260 | $21,870 | $38,760 | -14% | 53% |
| North Dakota | 980 | 0.40 | $36,800 | $28,400 | $43,840 | +4% | 32% |
| Ohio | 19,480 | 0.61 | $34,530 | $26,640 | $44,500 | -2% | 38% |
| Oklahoma | 7,430 | 0.76 | $28,540 | $20,800 | $35,980 | -19% | 44% |
| Oregon | 11,860 | 1.05 | $37,450 | $31,560 | $48,580 | +6% | 51% |
| Pennsylvania | 17,940 | 0.51 | $30,840 | $22,360 | $39,600 | -13% | 49% |
| Rhode Island | 2,830 | 0.98 | $35,470 | $31,200 | $45,220 | +0% | 48% |
| South Carolina | 14,460 | 1.09 | $32,180 | $22,990 | $40,370 | -9% | 47% |
| South Dakota | 3,270 | 1.24 | $30,430 | $26,510 | $38,580 | -14% | 39% |
| Tennessee | 19,780 | 1.05 | $28,700 | $22,290 | $39,660 | -19% | 54% |
| Texas | 81,280 | 1.01 | $30,650 | $22,790 | $42,450 | -13% | 58% |
| Utah | 10,530 | 1.06 | $33,540 | $26,740 | $45,290 | -5% | 57% |
| Vermont | 1,350 | 0.77 | $36,550 | $31,840 | $49,020 | +3% | 43% |
| Virginia | 16,340 | 0.69 | $34,900 | $28,460 | $42,480 | -1% | 57% |
| Washington | 19,510 | 0.96 | $40,910 | $34,890 | $51,730 | +16% | 54% |
| West Virginia | 2,960 | 0.73 | $28,360 | $21,570 | $35,890 | -20% | 37% |
| Wisconsin | 17,990 | 1.06 | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | -4% | 40% |
| Wyoming | 1,620 | 1.00 | $36,110 | $22,880 | $46,590 | +2% | 33% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 720 | $46,680 | $34,510 | $70,710 | 1.70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,930 | $45,580 | $37,340 | $55,550 | 0.91 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 11,060 | $43,830 | $35,410 | $54,700 | 0.92 |
| Napa, CA | 620 | $42,810 | $36,450 | $55,650 | 1.39 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,410 | $42,640 | $36,060 | $51,530 | 1.19 |
| Yakima, WA | 600 | $41,750 | $34,650 | $46,350 | 1.07 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 14,470 | $41,000 | $36,600 | $54,270 | 1.06 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 510 | $40,140 | $34,580 | $47,680 | 1.35 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 44,930 | $39,770 | $36,000 | $46,810 | 1.25 |
| Boulder, CO | 650 | $39,690 | $31,290 | $50,200 | 0.59 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,630 | $39,660 | $34,760 | $48,450 | 0.62 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 6,640 | $39,470 | $30,800 | $48,600 | 0.72 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 580 | $39,400 | $35,840 | $52,310 | 1.08 |
| Greeley, CO | 530 | $39,150 | $32,110 | $47,800 | 0.77 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 830 | $39,110 | $35,170 | $50,540 | 1.46 |
| Merced, CA | 460 | $38,980 | $34,320 | $47,110 | 1.02 |
| Vallejo, CA | 930 | $38,840 | $35,770 | $47,590 | 1.12 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9,360 | $38,780 | $35,820 | $47,410 | 1.06 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 6,870 | $38,730 | $35,070 | $50,280 | 0.99 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 670 | $38,660 | $34,190 | $55,480 | 1.24 |
| El Centro, CA | 320 | $38,610 | $34,320 | $47,460 | 0.86 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 900 | $38,550 | $35,250 | $50,850 | 1.28 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 5,510 | $38,480 | $34,860 | $48,980 | 0.89 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,180 | $38,480 | $35,300 | $48,970 | 1.10 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,490 | $38,470 | $34,840 | $48,690 | 1.29 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,170 | $38,450 | $34,320 | $47,890 | 1.04 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 11,190 | $38,420 | $34,320 | $48,040 | 1.13 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 810 | $38,390 | $35,240 | $47,710 | 1.09 |
| Bozeman, MT | 480 | $38,260 | $29,170 | $48,280 | 1.16 |
| Bellingham, WA | 630 | $38,240 | $35,040 | $48,670 | 1.21 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 1,610 | $38,190 | $30,150 | $46,060 | 1.61 |
| Bend, OR | 760 | $38,010 | $33,400 | $49,090 | 1.22 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 680 | $37,950 | $34,770 | $48,390 | 0.90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 3,300 | $37,820 | $35,100 | $48,040 | 1.42 |
| Yuba City, CA | 320 | $37,740 | $34,470 | $45,470 | 1.08 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,090 | $37,730 | $34,320 | $48,880 | 0.76 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 570 | $37,710 | $31,870 | $43,840 | 1.50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,910 | $37,680 | $34,660 | $50,980 | 1.03 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 14,810 | $37,630 | $31,340 | $45,010 | 0.82 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 11,910 | $37,580 | $31,730 | $44,640 | 0.87 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,470 | $37,550 | $34,560 | $47,370 | 0.88 |
| Chico, CA | 480 | $37,510 | $34,320 | $45,690 | 1.06 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,190 | $37,450 | $33,710 | $48,680 | 0.65 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 3,480 | $37,320 | $29,690 | $44,060 | 1.78 |
| Salem, OR | 990 | $37,300 | $31,510 | $48,590 | 0.91 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 4,210 | $37,300 | $29,950 | $50,630 | 1.64 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,900 | $37,260 | $33,040 | $47,360 | 1.15 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 340 | $37,240 | $30,800 | $44,560 | 0.88 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,950 | $37,090 | $34,320 | $42,870 | 1.00 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 450 | $37,040 | $33,960 | $51,080 | 0.65 |
| Visalia, CA | 760 | $37,020 | $34,320 | $46,920 | 0.78 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1,590 | $37,000 | $28,260 | $43,110 | 1.62 |
| New Haven, CT | 2,140 | $36,970 | $34,010 | $61,000 | 1.32 |
| Madison, WI | 2,330 | $36,940 | $26,980 | $47,060 | 0.99 |
| Columbus, OH | 3,210 | $36,930 | $28,890 | $46,670 | 0.50 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 310 | $36,930 | $31,410 | $48,260 | 0.95 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 960 | $36,920 | $23,720 | $43,600 | 2.05 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 480 | $36,830 | $24,640 | $46,170 | 1.15 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 4,630 | $36,730 | $28,190 | $42,820 | 1.05 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 1,050 | $36,680 | $28,090 | $44,550 | 1.46 |
The median is $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $25,810 and the highest-paid tenth over $45,340 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
893,600 in May 2025, and BLS projects -3.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $40,910 (among states with published figures).