Average Salary for Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
SOC 35-3021 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 2018 data
The median annual wage for Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food in the United States is $21,250 ($10.22/hr), based on 2018 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $17,210 at the 10th percentile to $28,640 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 3,676,180 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 15.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$21,250
Mean Annual
$22,140
10th Pct
$17,210
75th Pct
$24,460
Employment
3,676,180
Salary Distribution
$17k
10th
$19k
25th
$21k
Median
$24k
75th
$29k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $27,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $26,100 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $25,360 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $25,340 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $25,280 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $25,230 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $25,200 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $25,190 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | $25,190 |
| Napa, CA | $25,070 |
| Ithaca, NY | $25,070 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $25,060 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $25,050 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $24,990 |
| Yakima, WA | $24,980 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $28,870 |
| Washington | $25,430 |
| Massachusetts | $25,070 |
| Vermont | $24,770 |
| California | $24,550 |
| New York | $24,350 |
| Alaska | $24,310 |
| Connecticut | $24,180 |
| North Dakota | $24,100 |
| Rhode Island | $23,960 |
| Oregon | $23,820 |
| Hawaii | $23,520 |
| Minnesota | $23,320 |
| Colorado | $23,220 |
| Arizona | $22,900 |
| Maryland | $22,370 |
| Nebraska | $22,060 |
| Montana | $21,390 |
| New Hampshire | $21,120 |
| Maine | $20,980 |
| New Jersey | $20,860 |
| South Dakota | $20,830 |
| Illinois | $20,780 |
| Virgin Islands | $20,660 |
| Guam | $20,530 |
| Nevada | $20,520 |
| Michigan | $20,420 |
| Iowa | $19,920 |
| Delaware | $19,820 |
| West Virginia | $19,790 |
| Wyoming | $19,670 |
| Texas | $19,640 |
| Florida | $19,590 |
| Missouri | $19,580 |
| Utah | $19,400 |
| Ohio | $19,360 |
| Virginia | $19,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $19,250 |
| Arkansas | $19,220 |
| Wisconsin | $19,210 |
| Kansas | $19,080 |
| New Mexico | $18,990 |
| Idaho | $18,960 |
| Tennessee | $18,910 |
| North Carolina | $18,890 |
| Indiana | $18,820 |
| Mississippi | $18,730 |
| Louisiana | $18,600 |
| Kentucky | $18,600 |
| Oklahoma | $18,520 |
| Georgia | $18,510 |
| South Carolina | $18,330 |
| Alabama | $18,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,130 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food broken down by industry sector, 2018 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Rail Transportation | $53,360 |
| Rail Transportation | $53,360 |
| Federal government, including the US Postal Service | $33,350 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | $33,350 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $32,100 |
| Hospitals | $29,450 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $29,290 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $29,220 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $29,220 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $29,130 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $29,090 |
| Furniture Stores | $28,780 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $28,180 |
| Junior Colleges | $28,080 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $27,530 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $27,530 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $27,370 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores | $27,300 |
| Air Transportation | $26,830 |
| State government, including schools and hospitals | $26,510 |
| Insurance Carriers | $26,470 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $26,390 |
| Finance and Insurance | $26,330 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $26,270 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $26,040 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $25,890 |
| General Merchandise Stores | $25,510 |
| Individual and Family Services | $25,450 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $25,440 |
| Automobile Dealers | $25,310 |
| Educational Services | $25,260 |
| Water Transportation | $25,260 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $25,260 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $25,220 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $25,200 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $24,950 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $24,880 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $24,840 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $24,830 |
| Other Support Services | $24,660 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $24,460 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $24,450 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores | $24,380 |
| Clothing Stores | $24,380 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $24,280 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $24,280 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores | $24,280 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $24,260 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $24,230 |
| Social Assistance | $24,140 |
| Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospitals, and the US Postal Service | $24,130 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $23,990 |
| Sporting Goods Stores | $23,990 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores | $23,930 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $23,920 |
| Casino Hotels | $23,920 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $23,910 |
| Home Furnishings Stores | $23,860 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $23,780 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $23,770 |
| Information | $23,770 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $23,770 |
| Educational Services | $23,740 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $23,720 |
| Local government, including schools and hospitals | $23,710 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $23,640 |
| Food and Beverage Stores (4451 and 4452 only) | $23,630 |
| Food and Beverage Stores | $23,630 |
| Direct Selling Establishments | $23,600 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $23,600 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores | $23,570 |
| Real Estate | $23,510 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $23,490 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $23,480 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $23,480 |
| Nonstore Retailers | $23,410 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $23,390 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation | $23,360 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $23,360 |
| Retail Trade | $23,330 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $23,330 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $23,320 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $23,320 |
| Child Day Care Services | $23,310 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $23,290 |
| Book Stores and News Dealers | $23,290 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $23,280 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $23,270 |
| Vending Machine Operators | $23,210 |
| Offices of Physicians | $23,200 |
| Religious Organizations | $23,190 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $23,120 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $23,120 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $23,120 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $23,070 |
| Employment Services | $23,050 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $23,040 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $23,010 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $23,010 |
| Accommodation | $23,000 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) | $22,980 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $22,930 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $22,930 |
| Manufacturing | $22,930 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $22,840 |
| Facilities Support Services | $22,820 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $22,810 |
| Temporary Help Services | $22,790 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $22,770 |
| Food Manufacturing | $22,750 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $22,730 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $22,710 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $22,700 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $22,690 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $22,680 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $22,550 |
| Special Food Services | $22,480 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $22,450 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $22,440 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $22,270 |
| Home Health Care Services | $22,190 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $22,150 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $22,140 |
| Wholesale Trade | $22,040 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $22,040 |
| Spectator Sports | $21,860 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $21,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $21,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $21,850 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $21,850 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $21,720 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $21,640 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $21,640 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $21,380 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | $21,280 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | $21,280 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $21,240 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $21,240 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $21,230 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $21,180 |
| Cross-industry, private ownership only | $21,100 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $21,070 |
| Gasoline Stations | $21,020 |
| Gasoline Stations | $21,020 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $20,940 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $20,830 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $20,820 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $20,810 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4532 and 4533 only) | $20,800 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores | $20,780 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $20,720 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $20,560 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $20,560 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $20,560 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers | $20,460 |
| Gambling Industries | $20,420 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $20,390 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $20,310 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $20,280 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $20,250 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $19,880 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses | $19,810 |
| Other Personal Services | $19,690 |
| Construction | $19,630 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $19,590 |
| Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers | $19,550 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $19,430 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $19,320 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $19,320 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $19,070 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $19,070 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $18,910 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $18,800 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $18,720 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $18,610 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $18,610 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores | $18,550 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $18,520 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $21,250 |
| 2017 | $20,180 |
| 2016 | $19,440 |
| 2015 | $18,910 |
| 2014 | $18,410 |