How much does a food prep worker make?
Answer: A typical food prep worker in the United States makes $35,320 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 894,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Food prep worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a food prep worker do?
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some food prep workers record temperatures not just for food, but also for refrigerators and freezers.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Food Preparation and Serving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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