Food Preparation Workers pay range in Wenatchee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,750 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Wenatchee earn between $34,890 and $42,500.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $42K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,380 | $3,282 | $18.93 |
| Median | $36,580 | $3,048 | $17.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,890 | $2,908 | $16.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,500 | $3,542 | $20.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Wenatchee vs. Washington and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Wenatchee earn 8% less than the Washington average ($42,660) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee | $39,380 | $36,580 | $34,650 | $46,750 | 330 |
| Washington | $42,660 | $40,910 | $34,890 | $51,730 | 19,510 |
| 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 Wenatchee
On the average salary of $39,380, a single filer in Wenatchee takes home about $33,822 a year, or $2,818 a month and $1,301 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Wenatchee a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wenatchee area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.9), so the average $39,380 buys what about $37,918 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wenatchee ($49,290). A typical home costs $523,629, or 13.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Washington cities
Wenatchee ranks 10th of 11 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($44,390).
- Seattle$44,390
- Bremerton$42,910
- Mount Vernon$41,420
- Bellingham$40,960
- Olympia$40,900
- Yakima$40,820
- Kennewick$39,990
- Walla Walla$39,820
- Longview$39,490
- Wenatchee$39,380
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 Wenatchee: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Wenatchee?
$18.94 an hour on average, and $17.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Wenatchee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Wenatchee?
About $33,822 a year ($2,818 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,380. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Wenatchee than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more 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 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA (48300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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