Food Preparation Workers Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
SOC 35-2021 · Metropolitan Area · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Food Preparation Workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $37,180 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $17.88 per hour. This is 9% above the national median of $34,220. 1,390 people work as Food Preparation Workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA. Wages have grown 69% since 2015, when the median was $22,050.
Median Annual Salary
$37,180
Mean Annual
$39,900
Median Hourly
$17.88
Total Employed
1,390
Location Quotient
1.20
Average concentration
Salary Distribution
How This Compares
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$37,180
this metro
California
$38,150
you earn -3% vs state
United States
$34,220
you earn +9% vs US
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,180 |
| 2023 | $36,430 |
| 2022 | $33,580 |
| 2021 | $30,960 |
| 2020 | $31,000 |
| 2019 | $28,510 |
| 2018 | $24,690 |
| 2017 | $23,640 |
| 2016 | $23,060 |
| 2015 | $22,050 |
Related Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations Jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,220 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,760 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,290 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,320 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,600 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,010 |