Food Preparation Workers salary · California
Food Preparation Workers Salary in California
Food Preparation Workers in California earn a median of $39,350 a year, which is $18.92 an hour. That is $4,030 above the national median of $35,320, a difference of 11 percent. The state employs 112,750.
California against the US May 2025
| Figure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $18.92 | $16.98 |
| Mean annual | $41,480 | $35,290 |
| 10th percentile | $35,190 | $25,810 |
| 90th percentile | $48,470 | $45,340 |
| Employment | 112,750 | 893,600 |
How California compares
By median pay, California ranks 2 of the 12 states this site reports for food preparation workers. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for food preparation workers May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | $19.67 | 19,510 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $17.27 | 73,100 |
| New York | $35,610 | $17.12 | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $17.09 | 24,730 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $16.95 | 26,450 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $16.75 | 34,820 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $16.76 | 24,620 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $14.74 | 81,280 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $14.55 | 24,960 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $13.80 | 19,780 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $11.36 | 30,920 |
Common questions
How much do food preparation workers make in California?
The median salary for food preparation workers in California is $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour. That is $4,030 above the national median of $35,320, a difference of 11 percent. California employs 112,750 of them.
Is California a good state to work as a food preparation worker?
On pay alone, California ranks 2 of the 12 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for food preparation workers in California?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $35,190 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $48,470 or more. The middle half falls between $37,010 and $44,540.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 35-2021 in California. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national food preparation workers salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.