35 Series · SOC 35-2021
Food Preparation Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,320
- Median / year
- $45,340
- Top 10% earn
- -3.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 893,600
- US workers
Food Preparation Workers earn a median of $35,320 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,320, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $25,810 (10th percentile) to $45,340 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 893,600 US workers. Washington pays the most ($40,910), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Food Preparation Workers earn a median of $35,320, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 3% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #10 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.4% by 2033.
- $35,320
- Median annual wage
- Top 97%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #10 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $40,910. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021) pays a national median of $35,320 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $25,810 at the 10th percentile to $45,340 at the 90th, with a mean of $35,290 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 893,600 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 528 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 148,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $40,910, which is +16% above the national figure. The top metro is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $46,680 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 893,600 jobs Median $35,320/yr
Median Salary
$35,320
per year
Median Hourly
$16.98/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$35,290
average
Employment
893,600
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Food Preparation Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,320 Bottom 3% higher than 3% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Food Preparation Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Food Preparation Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -3.4% growth and $35,320 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-3.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
148,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Food Preparation Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Speaking 2.9
Coordination 2.9
Critical Thinking 2.8
Reading Comprehension 2.6
Social Perceptiveness 2.6
Monitoring 2.5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.4
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 3.3
Food Production 2.9
Production and Processing 2.7
English Language 2.4
Administration and Management 2.3
Psychology 1.8
Education and Training 1.8
Public Safety and Security 1.8
Administrative 1.7
Personnel and Human Resources 1.7
Key Tasks
- ▸ Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
- ▸ Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- ▸ Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
- ▸ Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
- ▸ Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- ▸ Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
- ▸ Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- ▸ Weigh or measure ingredients.
- ▸ Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
- ▸ Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$25,810
25th Percentile
$29,950
Median
$35,320
75th Percentile
$38,550
90th Percentile
$45,340
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,910 | +16% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 | +12% above national |
| 3 | California | $39,350 | +11% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $38,960 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 | +10% above national |
| 6 | Hawaii | $38,160 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,450 | +6% above national |
| 8 | North Dakota | $36,800 | +4% above national |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $36,780 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $36,750 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Connecticut | $36,650 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Vermont | $36,550 | +3% above national |
| 13 | Wyoming | $36,110 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Maine | $36,030 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Delaware | $35,930 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Florida | $35,920 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Alaska | $35,720 | +1% above national |
| 18 | New York | $35,610 | +1% above national |
| 19 | New Jersey | $35,540 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Maryland | $35,500 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $35,470 | same as national |
| 22 | Georgia | $35,250 | same as national |
| 23 | Nebraska | $35,210 | same as national |
| 24 | Virginia | $34,900 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Illinois | $34,850 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Minnesota | $34,850 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Ohio | $34,530 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $34,070 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $33,860 | 4% below national |
| 30 | Utah | $33,540 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Nevada | $33,460 | 5% below national |
| 32 | New Mexico | $33,370 | 6% below national |
| 33 | South Carolina | $32,180 | 9% below national |
| 34 | Idaho | $31,510 | 11% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $31,510 | 11% below national |
| 36 | Michigan | $31,180 | 12% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $30,840 | 13% below national |
| 38 | Texas | $30,650 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Virgin Islands | $30,460 | 14% below national |
| 40 | South Dakota | $30,430 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Iowa | $30,360 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Kansas | $30,280 | 14% below national |
| 43 | North Carolina | $30,260 | 14% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $29,700 | 16% below national |
| 45 | Tennessee | $28,700 | 19% below national |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,540 | 19% below national |
| 47 | West Virginia | $28,360 | 20% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $27,930 | 21% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $27,660 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Kentucky | $26,850 | 24% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $26,240 | 26% below national |
| 52 | Louisiana | $23,620 | 33% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $22,400 | 37% below national |
| 54 | Guam | $21,820 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 528 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $46,680 | +32% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,580 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,830 | +24% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $42,950 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Napa, CA | $42,810 | +21% above national |
| 6 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $42,640 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $41,540 | +18% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $41,040 | +16% above national |
| 10 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,000 | +16% above national |
| 11 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $40,140 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Walla Walla, WA | $40,030 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Boulder, CO | $39,690 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,660 | +12% above national |
| 16 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,470 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $39,400 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $39,200 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Greeley, CO | $39,150 | +11% above national |
| 20 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,110 | +11% above national |
| 21 | Merced, CA | $38,980 | +10% above national |
| 22 | Vallejo, CA | $38,840 | +10% above national |
| 23 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,780 | +10% above national |
| 24 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,730 | +10% above national |
| 25 | Barnstable Town, MA | $38,660 | +9% above national |
| 26 | El Centro, CA | $38,610 | +9% above national |
| 27 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | +9% above national |
| 28 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,480 | +9% above national |
| 29 | Salinas, CA | $38,480 | +9% above national |
| 30 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,470 | +9% above national |
| 31 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $38,460 | +9% above national |
| 32 | Modesto, CA | $38,450 | +9% above national |
| 33 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,420 | +9% above national |
| 34 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $38,410 | +9% above national |
| 35 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $38,390 | +9% above national |
| 36 | Bozeman, MT | $38,260 | +8% above national |
| 37 | Bellingham, WA | $38,240 | +8% above national |
| 38 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,190 | +8% above national |
| 39 | Bend, OR | $38,010 | +8% above national |
| 40 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,950 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,900 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $37,820 | +7% above national |
| 43 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,740 | +7% above national |
| 44 | Yuba City, CA | $37,740 | +7% above national |
| 45 | Fresno, CA | $37,730 | +7% above national |
| 46 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,710 | +7% above national |
| 47 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,680 | +7% above national |
| 48 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,630 | +7% above national |
| 49 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,580 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,550 | +6% above national |
| 52 | Chico, CA | $37,510 | +6% above national |
| 53 | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,450 | +6% above national |
| 54 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,450 | +6% above national |
| 55 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | +6% above national |
| 56 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,430 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $37,390 | +6% above national |
| 58 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,320 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Minot, ND | $37,310 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Salem, OR | $37,300 | +6% above national |
| 61 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,300 | +6% above national |
| 62 | Bismarck, ND | $37,270 | +6% above national |
| 63 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $37,260 | +5% above national |
| 64 | Grand Junction, CO | $37,240 | +5% above national |
| 65 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,090 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $37,040 | +5% above national |
| 67 | Visalia, CA | $37,020 | +5% above national |
| 68 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,000 | +5% above national |
| 69 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,980 | +5% above national |
| 70 | New Haven, CT | $36,970 | +5% above national |
| 71 | Madison, WI | $36,940 | +5% above national |
| 72 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | +5% above national |
| 73 | Pittsfield, MA | $36,930 | +5% above national |
| 74 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,920 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $36,830 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,680 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $36,620 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Fargo, ND-MN | $36,590 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,580 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,580 | +4% above national |
| 84 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,560 | +4% above national |
| 85 | Worcester, MA | $36,550 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Corvallis, OR | $36,510 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $36,510 | +3% above national |
| 88 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $36,490 | +3% above national |
| 89 | Redding, CA | $36,400 | +3% above national |
| 90 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,360 | +3% above national |
| 92 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $36,330 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,330 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,310 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,310 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $36,260 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,250 | +3% above national |
| 98 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,220 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $36,200 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $36,160 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Ithaca, NY | $36,140 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Omaha, NE-IA | $36,140 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Santa Fe, NM | $36,120 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Springfield, MA | $36,020 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,950 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Cheyenne, WY | $35,930 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,870 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Albany, OR | $35,860 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,860 | +2% above national |
| 114 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $35,820 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $35,810 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $35,780 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $35,770 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $35,750 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | +1% above national |
| 120 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,670 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $35,650 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $35,630 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Pueblo, CO | $35,620 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,600 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,600 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $35,550 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,470 | same as national |
| 128 | Rochester, MN | $35,470 | same as national |
| 129 | Medford, OR | $35,440 | same as national |
| 130 | Grants Pass, OR | $35,430 | same as national |
| 131 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,410 | same as national |
| 132 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,410 | same as national |
| 133 | Yuma, AZ | $35,390 | same as national |
| 134 | Binghamton, NY | $35,370 | same as national |
| 135 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | same as national |
| 136 | Boise City, ID | $35,340 | same as national |
| 137 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | same as national |
| 138 | Toledo, OH | $35,260 | same as national |
| 139 | Tucson, AZ | $35,260 | same as national |
| 140 | Vineland, NJ | $35,240 | same as national |
| 141 | Lincoln, NE | $35,210 | same as national |
| 142 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $35,180 | same as national |
| 143 | Kingston, NY | $35,130 | 1% below national |
| 144 | Iowa City, IA | $35,120 | 1% below national |
| 145 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $35,100 | 1% below national |
| 146 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $35,100 | 1% below national |
| 147 | Carson City, NV | $35,090 | 1% below national |
| 148 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $35,090 | 1% below national |
| 149 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,080 | 1% below national |
| 150 | Gainesville, FL | $35,050 | 1% below national |
| 151 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 152 | Missoula, MT | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 153 | Rochester, NY | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 154 | Syracuse, NY | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Akron, OH | $35,010 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $34,990 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Bangor, ME | $34,970 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Helena, MT | $34,960 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Gainesville, GA | $34,950 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 | 1% below national |
| 163 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,900 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,880 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,880 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,850 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $34,850 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Kenosha, WI | $34,840 | 1% below national |
| 169 | St. George, UT | $34,800 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,770 | 2% below national |
| 171 | Anchorage, AK | $34,760 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,700 | 2% below national |
| 173 | Casper, WY | $34,660 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,640 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $34,640 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,610 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $34,600 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Billings, MT | $34,590 | 2% below national |
| 179 | Grand Island, NE | $34,590 | 2% below national |
| 180 | Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 | 2% below national |
| 181 | Dover, DE | $34,560 | 2% below national |
| 182 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,560 | 2% below national |
| 183 | Ocala, FL | $34,560 | 2% below national |
| 184 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,560 | 2% below national |
| 185 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $34,560 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $34,530 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,480 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Ogden, UT | $34,430 | 3% below national |
| 189 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $34,420 | 3% below national |
| 190 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,390 | 3% below national |
| 191 | Albuquerque, NM | $34,380 | 3% below national |
| 192 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,380 | 3% below national |
| 193 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $34,360 | 3% below national |
| 194 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 195 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,290 | 3% below national |
| 196 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,280 | 3% below national |
| 197 | Mansfield, OH | $34,270 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Glens Falls, NY | $34,200 | 3% below national |
| 200 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,180 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Savannah, GA | $34,130 | 3% below national |
| 202 | Ann Arbor, MI | $34,100 | 3% below national |
| 203 | Sandusky, OH | $34,080 | 4% below national |
| 204 | Appleton, WI | $34,060 | 4% below national |
| 205 | Duluth, MN-WI | $34,010 | 4% below national |
| 206 | Elmira, NY | $34,010 | 4% below national |
| 207 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $33,960 | 4% below national |
| 208 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $33,870 | 4% below national |
| 209 | Lexington Park, MD | $33,840 | 4% below national |
| 210 | Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 | 4% below national |
| 211 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $33,760 | 4% below national |
| 212 | Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 | 5% below national |
| 213 | Richmond, VA | $33,650 | 5% below national |
| 214 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,640 | 5% below national |
| 215 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $33,610 | 5% below national |
| 216 | St. Cloud, MN | $33,540 | 5% below national |
| 217 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $33,540 | 5% below national |
| 218 | Decatur, IL | $33,450 | 5% below national |
| 219 | Mankato, MN | $33,440 | 5% below national |
| 220 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $33,430 | 5% below national |
| 221 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $33,370 | 6% below national |
| 222 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $33,330 | 6% below national |
| 223 | Utica-Rome, NY | $33,250 | 6% below national |
| 224 | Midland, TX | $33,200 | 6% below national |
| 225 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,120 | 6% below national |
| 226 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $33,110 | 6% below national |
| 227 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $33,060 | 6% below national |
| 228 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $32,760 | 7% below national |
| 229 | Green Bay, WI | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 230 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $32,650 | 8% below national |
| 231 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $32,640 | 8% below national |
| 232 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $32,640 | 8% below national |
| 233 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $32,580 | 8% below national |
| 234 | Rockford, IL | $32,530 | 8% below national |
| 235 | Springfield, IL | $32,530 | 8% below national |
| 236 | Dubuque, IA | $32,520 | 8% below national |
| 237 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,400 | 8% below national |
| 238 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $32,390 | 8% below national |
| 239 | Las Cruces, NM | $32,360 | 8% below national |
| 240 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $32,340 | 8% below national |
| 241 | Sebring, FL | $32,330 | 8% below national |
| 242 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $32,230 | 9% below national |
| 243 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $32,210 | 9% below national |
| 244 | Reno, NV | $32,180 | 9% below national |
| 245 | Columbus, IN | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 246 | Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 247 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 248 | Peoria, IL | $32,140 | 9% below national |
| 249 | Asheville, NC | $32,110 | 9% below national |
| 250 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,090 | 9% below national |
| 251 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $32,050 | 9% below national |
| 252 | Bloomington, IL | $32,030 | 9% below national |
| 253 | Traverse City, MI | $31,980 | 9% below national |
| 254 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $31,930 | 10% below national |
| 255 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $31,920 | 10% below national |
| 256 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,850 | 10% below national |
| 257 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $31,840 | 10% below national |
| 258 | Springfield, OH | $31,840 | 10% below national |
| 259 | Warner Robins, GA | $31,830 | 10% below national |
| 260 | Wilmington, NC | $31,830 | 10% below national |
| 261 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,790 | 10% below national |
| 262 | Fond du Lac, WI | $31,720 | 10% below national |
| 263 | Wausau, WI | $31,720 | 10% below national |
| 264 | Winchester, VA-WV | $31,620 | 10% below national |
| 265 | Lancaster, PA | $31,580 | 11% below national |
| 266 | Reading, PA | $31,580 | 11% below national |
| 267 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,550 | 11% below national |
| 268 | Flint, MI | $31,510 | 11% below national |
| 269 | Gettysburg, PA | $31,500 | 11% below national |
| 270 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,470 | 11% below national |
| 271 | Salisbury, MD | $31,460 | 11% below national |
| 272 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,450 | 11% below national |
| 273 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $31,420 | 11% below national |
| 274 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $31,410 | 11% below national |
| 275 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,400 | 11% below national |
| 276 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $31,390 | 11% below national |
| 277 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $31,390 | 11% below national |
| 278 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $31,390 | 11% below national |
| 279 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $31,370 | 11% below national |
| 280 | Lawrence, KS | $31,350 | 11% below national |
| 281 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $31,330 | 11% below national |
| 282 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,290 | 11% below national |
| 283 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $31,290 | 11% below national |
| 284 | State College, PA | $31,210 | 12% below national |
| 285 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 286 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 287 | Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 288 | Lebanon, PA | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 289 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 290 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 291 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 292 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $31,190 | 12% below national |
| 293 | Jackson, MI | $31,120 | 12% below national |
| 294 | York-Hanover, PA | $31,100 | 12% below national |
| 295 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,040 | 12% below national |
| 296 | Farmington, NM | $31,030 | 12% below national |
| 297 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $31,010 | 12% below national |
| 298 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $31,000 | 12% below national |
| 299 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $31,000 | 12% below national |
| 300 | Knoxville, TN | $30,960 | 12% below national |
| 301 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $30,940 | 12% below national |
| 302 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,870 | 13% below national |
| 303 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,850 | 13% below national |
| 304 | Sheboygan, WI | $30,810 | 13% below national |
| 305 | Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 | 13% below national |
| 306 | Roanoke, VA | $30,790 | 13% below national |
| 307 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,780 | 13% below national |
| 308 | Albany, GA | $30,740 | 13% below national |
| 309 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,740 | 13% below national |
| 310 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,700 | 13% below national |
| 311 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,700 | 13% below national |
| 312 | Hinesville, GA | $30,690 | 13% below national |
| 313 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $30,680 | 13% below national |
| 314 | Rapid City, SD | $30,670 | 13% below national |
| 315 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $30,640 | 13% below national |
| 316 | Morgantown, WV | $30,620 | 13% below national |
| 317 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $30,560 | 13% below national |
| 318 | Odessa, TX | $30,550 | 14% below national |
| 319 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $30,520 | 14% below national |
| 320 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,510 | 14% below national |
| 321 | Great Falls, MT | $30,490 | 14% below national |
| 322 | Idaho Falls, ID | $30,490 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,490 | 14% below national |
| 324 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,460 | 14% below national |
| 325 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,430 | 14% below national |
| 326 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,400 | 14% below national |
| 327 | Tulsa, OK | $30,370 | 14% below national |
| 328 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,360 | 14% below national |
| 329 | Bloomington, IN | $30,340 | 14% below national |
| 330 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $30,310 | 14% below national |
| 331 | Altoona, PA | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 332 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 333 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 334 | Topeka, KS | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 335 | Columbia, SC | $30,260 | 14% below national |
| 336 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $30,170 | 15% below national |
| 337 | Kokomo, IN | $30,160 | 15% below national |
| 338 | Oklahoma City, OK | $30,160 | 15% below national |
| 339 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,130 | 15% below national |
| 340 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,120 | 15% below national |
| 341 | Dalton, GA | $30,100 | 15% below national |
| 342 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $30,100 | 15% below national |
| 343 | Monroe, MI | $30,060 | 15% below national |
| 344 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,020 | 15% below national |
| 345 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,970 | 15% below national |
| 346 | Twin Falls, ID | $29,960 | 15% below national |
| 347 | Wichita, KS | $29,940 | 15% below national |
| 348 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,940 | 15% below national |
| 349 | Ames, IA | $29,900 | 15% below national |
| 350 | Chambersburg, PA | $29,890 | 15% below national |
| 351 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $29,860 | 15% below national |
| 352 | Huntsville, AL | $29,850 | 15% below national |
| 353 | Lima, OH | $29,720 | 16% below national |
| 354 | Columbia, MO | $29,710 | 16% below national |
| 355 | Burlington, NC | $29,660 | 16% below national |
| 356 | Battle Creek, MI | $29,650 | 16% below national |
| 357 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,640 | 16% below national |
| 358 | Niles, MI | $29,640 | 16% below national |
| 359 | Erie, PA | $29,620 | 16% below national |
| 360 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $29,610 | 16% below national |
| 361 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29,510 | 16% below national |
| 362 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,500 | 16% below national |
| 363 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,470 | 17% below national |
| 364 | Spartanburg, SC | $29,460 | 17% below national |
| 365 | Rome, GA | $29,450 | 17% below national |
| 366 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $29,340 | 17% below national |
| 367 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $29,310 | 17% below national |
| 368 | Beckley, WV | $29,290 | 17% below national |
| 369 | Pocatello, ID | $29,290 | 17% below national |
| 370 | Manhattan, KS | $29,270 | 17% below national |
| 371 | Birmingham, AL | $29,260 | 17% below national |
| 372 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $29,240 | 17% below national |
| 373 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,220 | 17% below national |
| 374 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $29,210 | 17% below national |
| 375 | Jefferson City, MO | $29,200 | 17% below national |
| 376 | Florence, SC | $29,180 | 17% below national |
| 377 | Amarillo, TX | $29,160 | 17% below national |
| 378 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $29,140 | 17% below national |
| 379 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $29,140 | 17% below national |
| 380 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29,110 | 18% below national |
| 381 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,040 | 18% below national |
| 382 | Columbus, GA-AL | $29,030 | 18% below national |
| 383 | Valdosta, GA | $29,020 | 18% below national |
| 384 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29,020 | 18% below national |
| 385 | Joplin, MO-KS | $29,010 | 18% below national |
| 386 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29,010 | 18% below national |
| 387 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,000 | 18% below national |
| 388 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $28,990 | 18% below national |
| 389 | Saginaw, MI | $28,960 | 18% below national |
| 390 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $28,960 | 18% below national |
| 391 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,960 | 18% below national |
| 392 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,860 | 18% below national |
| 393 | Rocky Mount, NC | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 394 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,830 | 18% below national |
| 395 | Bay City, MI | $28,790 | 18% below national |
| 396 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $28,790 | 18% below national |
| 397 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $28,770 | 19% below national |
| 398 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,770 | 19% below national |
| 399 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,740 | 19% below national |
| 400 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,730 | 19% below national |
| 401 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $28,700 | 19% below national |
| 402 | Waco, TX | $28,690 | 19% below national |
| 403 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,670 | 19% below national |
| 404 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,640 | 19% below national |
| 405 | San Angelo, TX | $28,640 | 19% below national |
| 406 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,640 | 19% below national |
| 407 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $28,620 | 19% below national |
| 408 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,620 | 19% below national |
| 409 | Terre Haute, IN | $28,610 | 19% below national |
| 410 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,610 | 19% below national |
| 411 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 19% below national |
| 412 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $28,570 | 19% below national |
| 413 | Lubbock, TX | $28,550 | 19% below national |
| 414 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,530 | 19% below national |
| 415 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,490 | 19% below national |
| 416 | Williamsport, PA | $28,480 | 19% below national |
| 417 | Evansville, IN | $28,440 | 19% below national |
| 418 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28,440 | 19% below national |
| 419 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,430 | 20% below national |
| 420 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,400 | 20% below national |
| 421 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,400 | 20% below national |
| 422 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28,400 | 20% below national |
| 423 | Mobile, AL | $28,390 | 20% below national |
| 424 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,290 | 20% below national |
| 425 | Hattiesburg, MS | $28,270 | 20% below national |
| 426 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $28,270 | 20% below national |
| 427 | Abilene, TX | $28,250 | 20% below national |
| 428 | Greenville, NC | $28,240 | 20% below national |
| 429 | Sumter, SC | $28,230 | 20% below national |
| 430 | Decatur, AL | $28,180 | 20% below national |
| 431 | Tyler, TX | $28,150 | 20% below national |
| 432 | Goldsboro, NC | $28,130 | 20% below national |
| 433 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,120 | 20% below national |
| 434 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,020 | 21% below national |
| 435 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $27,980 | 21% below national |
| 436 | Charleston, WV | $27,970 | 21% below national |
| 437 | Jacksonville, NC | $27,900 | 21% below national |
| 438 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,880 | 21% below national |
| 439 | Muncie, IN | $27,860 | 21% below national |
| 440 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,820 | 21% below national |
| 441 | Laredo, TX | $27,780 | 21% below national |
| 442 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $27,700 | 22% below national |
| 443 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,680 | 22% below national |
| 444 | Victoria, TX | $27,680 | 22% below national |
| 445 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,620 | 22% below national |
| 446 | Fayetteville, NC | $27,590 | 22% below national |
| 447 | Jonesboro, AR | $27,580 | 22% below national |
| 448 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,560 | 22% below national |
| 449 | Montgomery, AL | $27,420 | 22% below national |
| 450 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $27,410 | 22% below national |
| 451 | Eagle Pass, TX | $27,390 | 22% below national |
| 452 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $27,370 | 23% below national |
| 453 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $27,340 | 23% below national |
| 454 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,290 | 23% below national |
| 455 | Midland, MI | $27,290 | 23% below national |
| 456 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,290 | 23% below national |
| 457 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,270 | 23% below national |
| 458 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,250 | 23% below national |
| 459 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $27,230 | 23% below national |
| 460 | Paducah, KY-IL | $27,210 | 23% below national |
| 461 | Jackson, MS | $27,200 | 23% below national |
| 462 | Lawton, OK | $27,130 | 23% below national |
| 463 | Owensboro, KY | $27,130 | 23% below national |
| 464 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,090 | 23% below national |
| 465 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,040 | 23% below national |
| 466 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,030 | 23% below national |
| 467 | Morristown, TN | $27,020 | 23% below national |
| 468 | Jackson, TN | $26,970 | 24% below national |
| 469 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $26,970 | 24% below national |
| 470 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,960 | 24% below national |
| 471 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $26,900 | 24% below national |
| 472 | Johnson City, TN | $26,850 | 24% below national |
| 473 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $26,780 | 24% below national |
| 474 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $26,780 | 24% below national |
| 475 | Dothan, AL | $26,580 | 25% below national |
| 476 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,550 | 25% below national |
| 477 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,430 | 25% below national |
| 478 | Bowling Green, KY | $26,410 | 25% below national |
| 479 | Hot Springs, AR | $26,340 | 25% below national |
| 480 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,340 | 25% below national |
| 481 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $26,200 | 26% below national |
| 482 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $26,180 | 26% below national |
| 483 | Longview, TX | $26,150 | 26% below national |
| 484 | Gadsden, AL | $26,050 | 26% below national |
| 485 | El Paso, TX | $25,810 | 27% below national |
| 486 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $25,710 | 27% below national |
| 487 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $25,580 | 28% below national |
| 488 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $25,470 | 28% below national |
| 489 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $25,470 | 28% below national |
| 490 | Cleveland, TN | $25,430 | 28% below national |
| 491 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $25,040 | 29% below national |
| 492 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $24,960 | 29% below national |
| 493 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $24,960 | 29% below national |
| 494 | Johnstown, PA | $24,920 | 29% below national |
| 495 | Enid, OK | $24,810 | 30% below national |
| 496 | Baton Rouge, LA | $24,450 | 31% below national |
| 497 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $24,380 | 31% below national |
| 498 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $24,370 | 31% below national |
| 499 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $23,810 | 33% below national |
| 500 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $23,810 | 33% below national |
| 501 | Elizabethtown, KY | $23,600 | 33% below national |
| 502 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $23,450 | 34% below national |
| 503 | Lake Charles, LA | $23,380 | 34% below national |
| 504 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23,370 | 34% below national |
| 505 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $23,090 | 35% below national |
| 506 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,990 | 35% below national |
| 507 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,980 | 35% below national |
| 508 | Lafayette, LA | $22,920 | 35% below national |
| 509 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,840 | 35% below national |
| 510 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $22,810 | 35% below national |
| 511 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,800 | 35% below national |
| 512 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,780 | 36% below national |
| 513 | Hammond, LA | $22,740 | 36% below national |
| 514 | Guayama, PR | $22,500 | 36% below national |
| 515 | Monroe, LA | $22,430 | 36% below national |
| 516 | Arecibo, PR | $22,300 | 37% below national |
| 517 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $22,300 | 37% below national |
| 518 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,290 | 37% below national |
| 519 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $22,270 | 37% below national |
| 520 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $22,110 | 37% below national |
| 521 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $22,110 | 37% below national |
| 522 | Alexandria, LA | $22,080 | 37% below national |
| 523 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,050 | 38% below national |
| 524 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,970 | 38% below national |
| 525 | Ponce, PR | $21,960 | 38% below national |
| 526 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $21,910 | 38% below national |
| 527 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 528 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $21,750 | 38% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Food Preparation Workers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Food Preparation Workers is $35,320 ($16.98/hour). The salary range spans from $25,810 at the 10th percentile to $45,340 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Food Preparation Workers the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Food Preparation Workers at $40,910/year, which is +16% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Food Preparation Workers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Food Preparation Workers is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Food Preparation Workers? ▼
Food Preparation Workers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.4 per 100 workers.
Is Food Preparation Workers a good career? ▼
Employment for Food Preparation Workers is projected to decline 3.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 148,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Food Preparation Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Food Preparation Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $40,910/year, while Kentucky pays the least at $26,850/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Food Preparation Workers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Food Preparation Workers is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $46,680/year. BLS reports wage data for 528 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Food Preparation Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $38,550/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $40,910/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.