Food Preparation Worker salary in Dover, DE
Food Preparation Workers in the Dover, DE metro area earn a median of $34,560 a year ($16.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,660 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 4% lower than the Delaware statewide median of $35,930. There are 4.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $35,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Dover, DE
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,800 | $15.29 |
| Median | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| 75th percentile | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Average (mean) | $35,510 | $17.07 |
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 | $2,880 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,440 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,329.23 |
| Weekly | $664.62 |
| Hourly | $16.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Delaware statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dover, DE
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Bartender | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Dover, DE
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 Dover, DE?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Dover, DE metro area is $34,560 a year, or $16.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Dover, DE?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Dover, DE metro area earn at least $39,660 a year. The top 25% earn $37,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Dover, DE?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,800 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Dover, DE?
About 300 food preparation workers are employed in the Dover, DE metro area, not counting the self-employed.