Food Preparation Worker salary in Delaware
Food Preparation Workers in Delaware earn a median of $35,930 a year ($17.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,070 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,320. Delaware ranks 15th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 5.0 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,860 | $15.32 |
| Median | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| 75th percentile | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,070 | $20.71 |
| Average (mean) | $36,360 | $17.48 |
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 | $2,994.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,497.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,381.92 |
| Weekly | $690.96 |
| Hourly | $17.28 |
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 Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $34,560 | 300 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,560 | 10,780 |
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 Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Bartender | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Delaware is $35,930 a year, or $17.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Delaware?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Delaware earn at least $43,070 a year. The top 25% earn $38,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,860 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Delaware?
About 2,400 food preparation workers are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.