Food Preparation Worker salary in Salinas, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $38,480 a year ($18.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,970 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $39,350. There are 6.3 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| 25th percentile | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Median | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 75th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,970 | $23.54 |
| Average (mean) | $41,130 | $19.77 |
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 | $3,206.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,603.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,480 |
| Weekly | $740 |
| Hourly | $18.50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,600 | $17.11 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Bartender | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Salinas, CA metro area is $38,480 a year, or $18.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $48,970 a year. The top 25% earn $44,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,300 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $36,500 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Salinas, CA?
About 1,180 food preparation workers are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.