Food Preparation Workers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,540 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Santa Cruz earn between $36,810 and $45,280.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $45K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,060 | $3,505 | $20.22 |
| Median | $39,110 | $3,259 | $18.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,280 | $3,773 | $21.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($41,480) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $42,060 | $39,110 | $35,170 | $50,540 | 830 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $42,060, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $35,157 a year, or $2,930 a month and $1,352 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 Santa Cruz a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $42,060 buys what about $38,273 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 27.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 5th 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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$20.22 an hour on average, and $18.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $35,157 a year ($2,930 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,060. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.46, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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