Food Preparation Workers pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,970 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Salinas earn between $36,500 and $44,450.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $44K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,130 | $3,428 | $19.77 |
| Median | $38,480 | $3,207 | $18.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Salinas earn about the same as the California average ($41,480) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $41,130 | $38,480 | $35,300 | $48,970 | 1,180 |
| California | $41,480 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $41,130, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $34,447 a year, or $2,871 a month and $1,325 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $41,130 buys what about $37,719 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 20.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 9th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($45,660).
- 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
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Salinas: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Salinas?
$19.77 an hour on average, and $18.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Salinas?
About $34,447 a year ($2,871 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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