Food Preparation Workers pay range in Billings
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,300 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Billings earn between $28,370 and $37,120.
- $25K10th
- $28K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,030 | $2,836 | $16.36 |
| Median | $34,590 | $2,882 | $16.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,370 | $2,364 | $13.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Billings vs. Montana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Billings earn about the same as the Montana average ($33,700) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $34,030 | $34,590 | $25,470 | $44,300 | 580 |
| Montana | $33,700 | $33,860 | $26,000 | $43,410 | 2,990 |
| 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 Billings
On the average salary of $34,030, a single filer in Billings takes home about $28,680 a year, or $2,390 a month and $1,103 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 (2026 rules).
Is Billings a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Billings area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.5), so the average $34,030 buys what about $36,386 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Billings ($49,060). A typical home costs $410,666, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Montana cities
Billings ranks 3rd of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($38,080).
- Bozeman$38,080
- Missoula$34,220
- Billings$34,030
- Helena$33,440
- Great Falls$31,220
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 Billings: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Billings?
$16.36 an hour on average, and $16.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Billings?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Billings?
About $28,680 a year ($2,390 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,030.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Billings than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Billings, MT (13740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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