Food Preparation Workers pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,260 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Paducah earn between $23,310 and $32,650.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $33K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,490 | $2,374 | $13.70 |
| Median | $27,210 | $2,268 | $13.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,310 | $1,942 | $11.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,650 | $2,721 | $15.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $28,490, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $23,622 a year, or $1,969 a month and $909 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $23,802 | $1,984 |
| Working in KY | $23,622 | $1,969 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $28,490 buys what about $33,096 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 3rd 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 Paducah: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Paducah?
$13.70 an hour on average, and $13.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Paducah?
About $23,622 a year ($1,969 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,490. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.65, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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