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Food Preparation Workers average salary by city in California
- San Jose$45,660
- Napa$44,240
- Santa Rosa$43,450
- San Francisco$43,290
- Santa Cruz$42,060
- Vallejo$41,390
- San Luis Obispo$41,340
- Los Angeles$41,220
- Salinas$41,130
- San Diego$40,890
- Santa Maria$40,830
- Hanford$40,800
- El Centro$40,610
- Sacramento$40,600
- Stockton$40,500
- Riverside$40,490
- Fresno$40,450
- Modesto$40,410
- Oxnard$40,340
- Merced$40,150
- Yuba City$39,630
- Visalia$39,420
- Chico$39,010
- Bakersfield$38,700
- Redding$38,290
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $45,660 | $45,580 | $39,960 | $37,906 | 110 |
| Napa | $44,240 | $42,810 | $38,030 | $36,822 | 113 |
| Santa Rosa | $43,450 | $42,640 | $37,960 | $36,218 | 108 |
| San Francisco | $43,290 | $41,000 | $37,910 | $36,096 | 116 |
| Santa Cruz | $42,060 | $39,110 | $36,810 | $35,157 | 110 |
| Vallejo | $41,390 | $38,840 | $36,610 | $34,646 | 108 |
| San Luis Obispo | $41,340 | $38,550 | $36,080 | $34,607 | 109 |
| Los Angeles | $41,220 | $39,770 | $37,500 | $34,516 | 114 |
| Salinas | $41,130 | $38,480 | $36,500 | $34,447 | 109 |
| San Diego | $40,890 | $38,780 | $37,190 | $34,264 | 112 |
| Santa Maria | $40,830 | $38,470 | $36,110 | $34,218 | 109 |
| Hanford | $40,800 | $37,430 | $35,830 | $34,195 | 102 |
| El Centro | $40,610 | $38,610 | $35,320 | $34,050 | 95 |
| Sacramento | $40,600 | $38,480 | $35,880 | $34,042 | 107 |
| Stockton | $40,500 | $37,550 | $36,030 | $33,966 | 105 |
| Riverside | $40,490 | $38,420 | $34,970 | $33,958 | 106 |
| Fresno | $40,450 | $37,730 | $34,780 | $33,928 | 102 |
| Modesto | $40,410 | $38,450 | $35,410 | $33,897 | 104 |
| Oxnard | $40,340 | $37,680 | $35,740 | $33,844 | 111 |
| Merced | $40,150 | $38,980 | $34,900 | $33,699 | 98 |
| Yuba City | $39,630 | $37,740 | $35,640 | $33,302 | 104 |
| Visalia | $39,420 | $37,020 | $34,670 | $33,141 | 100 |
| Chico | $39,010 | $37,510 | $34,600 | $32,828 | 101 |
| Bakersfield | $38,700 | $37,090 | $34,660 | $32,592 | 101 |
| Redding | $38,290 | $36,400 | $34,680 | $32,279 | 101 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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