Food Preparation Workers pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,480 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Columbus earn between $27,960 and $35,690.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,060 | $2,672 | $15.41 |
| Median | $32,150 | $2,679 | $15.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,960 | $2,330 | $13.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,690 | $2,974 | $17.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $32,060, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $26,465 a year, or $2,205 a month and $1,018 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Is Columbus a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.0), so the average $32,060 buys what about $34,472 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($48,470). A typical home costs $277,164, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Columbus ranks 3rd of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($32,970).
- Elkhart$32,970
- Indianapolis$32,660
- Columbus$32,060
- Fort Wayne$31,840
- South Bend$31,810
- Kokomo$31,710
- Bloomington$31,230
- Lafayette$31,060
- Evansville$30,040
- Michigan City$30,030
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 Columbus: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Columbus?
$15.41 an hour on average, and $15.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Columbus?
About $26,465 a year ($2,205 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,060. Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
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 Columbus, IN (18020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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