Food Preparation Workers pay range in Sioux Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,020 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Sioux Falls earn between $28,770 and $33,540.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $34K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,900 | $2,658 | $15.34 |
| Median | $30,360 | $2,530 | $14.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,770 | $2,398 | $13.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Sioux Falls vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Sioux Falls earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($31,630) and 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $31,900 | $30,360 | $27,370 | $39,020 | 1,170 |
| South Dakota | $31,630 | $30,430 | $26,510 | $38,580 | 3,270 |
| 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 Sioux Falls
On the average salary of $31,900, a single filer in Sioux Falls takes home about $27,812 a year, or $2,318 a month and $1,070 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SD | $27,812 | $2,318 |
| Working in MN | $26,924 | $2,244 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Sioux Falls a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sioux Falls area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.6), so the average $31,900 buys what about $35,198 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Sioux Falls ($47,970). A typical home costs $342,936, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Sioux Falls$31,900
- Rapid City$31,420
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Sioux Falls: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Sioux Falls?
$15.34 an hour on average, and $14.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Sioux Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Sioux Falls?
About $27,812 a year ($2,318 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,900. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Sioux Falls than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN (43620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.