Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,420 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lexington earn between $24,230 and $34,750.
- $22K10th
- $24K25th
- $27KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,230 | $2,436 | $14.05 |
| Median | $27,340 | $2,278 | $13.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,230 | $2,019 | $11.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,750 | $2,896 | $16.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $29,230, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $23,957 a year, or $1,996 a month and $921 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $29,230 buys what about $31,468 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($31,570).
- Louisville$31,570
- Lexington$29,230
- Paducah$28,490
- Owensboro$28,220
- Bowling Green$28,000
- Elizabethtown$26,650
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 Lexington: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lexington?
$14.05 an hour on average, and $13.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $23,957 a year ($1,996 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,230. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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