Food Preparation Workers pay range in Akron
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,620 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Akron earn between $28,550 and $38,490.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,660 | $2,888 | $16.66 |
| Median | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,550 | $2,379 | $13.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,490 | $3,208 | $18.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Akron
On the average salary of $34,660, a single filer in Akron takes home about $28,659 a year, or $2,388 a month and $1,102 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 (2026 rules). Includes Akron's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Akron a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Akron area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $34,660 buys what about $37,121 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Akron ($48,840). A typical home costs $241,251, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Ohio cities
Akron ranks 4th of 12 Ohio metro areas for this job; Columbus pays the most ($37,060).
- Columbus$37,060
- Toledo$35,460
- Cleveland$35,230
- Akron$34,660
- Cincinnati$33,850
- Dayton$33,830
- Sandusky$33,700
- Springfield$33,180
- Canton$33,090
- Mansfield$32,580
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 Akron: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Akron?
$16.66 an hour on average, and $16.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Akron?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Akron?
About $28,659 a year ($2,388 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,660. Includes Akron's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Akron than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Akron, OH (10420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 Akron's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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