Food Preparation Workers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,010 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Washington earn between $35,670 and $42,190.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $42K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,690 | $3,224 | $18.60 |
| Median | $37,630 | $3,136 | $18.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,670 | $2,972 | $17.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,190 | $3,516 | $20.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $38,690, a single filer in Washington takes home about $32,112 a year, or $2,676 a month and $1,235 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $32,266 | $2,689 |
| Working in DC | $32,112 | $2,676 |
| Working in VA | $31,857 | $2,655 |
| Working in MD | $31,641 | $2,637 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $38,690 buys what about $35,533 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$32,550
- Baltimore, MD$36,910
- Winchester, VA$33,710
- Lexington Park, MD$35,080
- Gettysburg, PA$31,690
- Chambersburg, PA$29,980
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 Washington: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Washington?
$18.60 an hour on average, and $18.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Washington?
About $32,112 a year ($2,676 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,690.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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