Food Preparation Workers pay range in Great Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,790 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Great Falls earn between $26,210 and $36,010.
- $25K10th
- $26K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,220 | $2,602 | $15.01 |
| Median | $30,490 | $2,541 | $14.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,210 | $2,184 | $12.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,010 | $3,001 | $17.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Great Falls vs. Montana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Great Falls earn 7% less than the Montana average ($33,700) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $31,220 | $30,490 | $24,960 | $36,790 | 250 |
| 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 Great Falls
On the average salary of $31,220, a single filer in Great Falls takes home about $26,555 a year, or $2,213 a month and $1,021 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Great Falls a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Great Falls area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $31,220 buys what about $32,237 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Great Falls ($46,510). A typical home costs $344,945, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Montana cities
Great Falls ranks 5th of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($38,080).
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 Great Falls: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Great Falls?
$15.01 an hour on average, and $14.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Great Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Great Falls?
About $26,555 a year ($2,213 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,220.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Great Falls than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Great Falls, MT (24500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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