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Food Preparation Workers Salary in California

What Food Preparation Workers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 10 counties.

Average in CA
$39,696
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
2 of 24
published states
Workers in state
112,280
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
10 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$41,000$34,420−$2,671Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$39,770$33,481−$4,954Los Angeles County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$38,780$32,725−$4,906San Diego County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$38,420$32,450$2,379Riverside County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Riverside County, CA$38,420$32,450$2,379
2San Bernardino County, CA$38,420$32,450$2,379
3Alameda County, CA$41,000$34,420−$2,671
4Contra Costa County, CA$41,000$34,420−$2,671
5San Diego County, CA$38,780$32,725−$4,906
6Los Angeles County, CA$39,770$33,481−$4,954
7Orange County, CA$39,770$33,481−$7,450
8San Francisco County, CA$41,000$34,420−$11,227
9San Mateo County, CA$41,000$34,420−$11,227
10Marin County, CA$41,000$34,420−$11,227

Food Preparation Workers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in California is $39,696, based on 112,280 workers. Among the 24 states with published data, that ranks number 2. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so California averages 12.4% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $41,000 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $38,420 in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, a difference of $2,580 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in California

We compare 10 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Riverside County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $2,379. In Marin County, CA the basics cost $11,227 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 2 of the 10 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are Washington ($40,765), New Hampshire ($39,052), Massachusetts ($38,435) and District of Columbia ($37,630).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in California

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $39,696, from $38,420 to $41,000 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Riverside County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($2,379). San Bernardino County, CA follows at $2,379.