Food Preparation Workers Salary in California
SOC 35-2021 · State · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Food Preparation Workers in California is $38,150 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $18.34 per hour. This is 11% above the national median of $34,220. 98,950 people work as Food Preparation Workers in California. Wages have grown 38% since 2019, when the median was $27,550.
Median Annual Salary
$38,150
Mean Annual
$40,510
Median Hourly
$18.34
Total Employed
98,950
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$36k
25th
$38k
Median
$44k
75th
$48k
90th
How This Compares
California
$38,150
this metro
United States
$34,220
you earn +11% vs US
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,150 |
| 2023 | $37,130 |
| 2022 | $34,620 |
| 2021 | $31,800 |
| 2020 | $29,940 |
| 2019 | $27,550 |
Related Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations Jobs in California
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,780 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,140 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,680 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,290 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,430 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,010 |