Food Preparation Worker salary in California
Food Preparation Workers in California earn a median of $39,350 a year ($18.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 112,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,470 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $35,320. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for food preparation workers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 6.2 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,190 | $16.92 |
| 25th percentile | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Median | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| 75th percentile | $44,540 | $21.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| Average (mean) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,279.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,639.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,513.46 |
| Weekly | $756.73 |
| Hourly | $18.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,580 | 5,930 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $42,640 | 1,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,000 | 14,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | 44,930 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,110 | 830 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 | 930 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,780 | 9,360 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 | 320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | 900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,480 | 5,510 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,470 | 1,490 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,420 | 11,190 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,740 | 320 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,730 | 2,090 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,680 | 1,910 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,550 | 1,470 |
| Chico, CA | $37,510 | 480 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,430 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,090 | 1,950 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,020 | 760 |
| Redding, CA | $36,400 | 420 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Cooks, All Other | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in California?
The median salary for food preparation workers in California is $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in California?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in California earn at least $48,470 a year. The top 25% earn $44,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,190 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $37,010 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in California?
About 112,750 food preparation workers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.