Food Preparation Worker salary in Texas
Food Preparation Workers in Texas earn a median of $30,650 a year ($14.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 81,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,450 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,320. Texas ranks 38th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 5.8 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| 25th percentile | $27,110 | $13.04 |
| Median | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| 75th percentile | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Average (mean) | $32,120 | $15.44 |
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 | $2,554.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,277.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,178.85 |
| Weekly | $589.42 |
| Hourly | $14.74 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | 580 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,020 | 16,240 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,880 | 9,350 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,390 | 7,910 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,380 | 1,680 |
| Midland, TX | $33,200 | 500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,740 | 21,700 |
| Odessa, TX | $30,550 | 470 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,300 | 910 |
| Amarillo, TX | $29,160 | 770 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $28,700 | 880 |
| Waco, TX | $28,690 | 940 |
| San Angelo, TX | $28,640 | 340 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $28,620 | 290 |
| Lubbock, TX | $28,550 | 1,140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $28,430 | 1,810 |
| Abilene, TX | $28,250 | 410 |
| Tyler, TX | $28,150 | 730 |
| Laredo, TX | $27,780 | 700 |
| Victoria, TX | $27,680 | 230 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $27,390 | 90 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,290 | 310 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,960 | 1,750 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $26,180 | 1,390 |
| Longview, TX | $26,150 | 700 |
| El Paso, TX | $25,810 | 2,220 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $25,320 | $12.18 |
| Cooks, All Other | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,740 | $13.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,240 | $11.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,550 | $10.36 |
| Bartender | $22,690 | $10.91 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Dishwasher | $29,610 | $14.23 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,080 | $26.96 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Texas is $30,650 a year, or $14.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Texas?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Texas earn at least $42,450 a year. The top 25% earn $37,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,790 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $27,110 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Texas?
About 81,280 food preparation workers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.