How much does a food prep worker make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical food prep worker in the United States makes $35,320 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They measure ingredients, wash and chop vegetables, mix salads, and record temperatures for food and storage areas. They clean tools and counters, store supplies safely, and bring cooks what they need.
Did you know? Some food prep workers record temperatures not just for food, but also for refrigerators and freezers.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $25,810 and $45,340How do you become one?
In the U.S., no diploma or experience is usually needed; workers learn on the job in a few weeks. Some 14- and 15-year-olds may do limited food prep, but federal law restricts their hours and equipment.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, useful skills, and taking on harder tasks can affect pay; so can the kind of employer and the location. Part-time or seasonal hours, and different shifts, change how much a worker earns overall.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($40,910), lowest in Louisiana ($23,620).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,810 | $35,320 | $45,340 | about 894,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | about 20,000 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 | about 4,000 |
| California | $39,350 | about 113,000 |
| Colorado | $38,960 | about 12,000 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 | about 14,000 |
Official definition: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-preparation-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/35-2021.00
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/2a-child-labor-restaurants
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY