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Food Preparation Workers Salary in Texas

What Food Preparation Workers earn in Texas, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 34 counties.

Average in TX
$31,761
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
22 of 24
published states
Workers in state
80,360
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
34 counties

Pay by labor market in Texas

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in Texas
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068Harris County, TX
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727Travis County, TX
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342Bexar County, TX
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$30,740$26,828$1,329Dallas County, TX

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in Texas counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Austin County, TX$35,020$30,267$13,396
2Medina County, TX$34,390$29,761$11,402
3Atascosa County, TX$34,390$29,761$10,910
4San Jacinto County, TX$35,020$30,267$10,384
5Wise County, TX$30,740$26,828$9,057
6Brazoria County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,656
7Bexar County, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342
8Comal County, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342
9Guadalupe County, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342
10Wilson County, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342
11Bandera County, TX$34,390$29,761$8,342
12Harris County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
13Fort Bend County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
14Montgomery County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
15Galveston County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
16Liberty County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
17Waller County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
18Chambers County, TX$35,020$30,267$8,068
19Kendall County, TX$34,390$29,761$7,274
20Travis County, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727
21Williamson County, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727
22Hays County, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727
23Bastrop County, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727
24Caldwell County, TX$34,880$30,155$4,727
25Tarrant County, TX$30,740$26,828$1,989

Showing 25 of 34 counties. Every county page carries the full payslip.

Food Preparation Workers pay in Texas

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in Texas is $31,761, based on 80,360 workers. Among the 24 states with published data, that ranks number 22. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so Texas averages 10.1% below it.

Inside Texas, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $35,020 in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area and the lowest is $30,740 in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, a difference of $4,280 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in Texas

We compare 34 Texas counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Austin County, TX leaves the largest yearly margin, $13,396. Hunt County, TX leaves the smallest, $1,329. The median wage covers all four basics in 34 of the 34 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are Washington ($40,765), California ($39,696), New Hampshire ($39,052) and Massachusetts ($38,435).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in Texas

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in Texas?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $31,761, from $30,740 to $35,020 depending on the labor market.

Which Texas county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Austin County, TX leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($13,396). Medina County, TX follows at $11,402.