Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
National median · BLS
$35,320
▲ +3.21%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$35,290
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
893,600
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Food Preparation Workers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$25,810
25th
$29,950
Median (50th)
$35,320
75th
$38,550
90th — top pay
$45,340
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Food Preparation Workers
BLS projects employment of food preparation workers to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 135,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
908,500 → 881,300
-27,200 jobs
Projected change
-3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
135,700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Food Preparation Workers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Food Preparation Workers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.0
Service Orientation3.0
Time Management3.0
Coordination2.9
Speaking2.9
Critical Thinking2.8
Reading Comprehension2.6
Social Perceptiveness2.6
Monitoring2.5
Judgment and Decision Making2.4
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service3.3
Food Production2.9
Production and Processing2.7
English Language2.4
Administration and Management2.3
Psychology1.8
Education and Training1.8
Public Safety and Security1.8
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareBarrington Software CookenPro CommercialCBORD Foodservice SuiteCBORD NetRecipeCulinary Software Services ChefTecEGS CALCMENUiProMaster Cook Deluxe Professional CookMealmaster Cookbook WizardMicroBlast Recipe Wizard for WindowsQuizletRecipe softwareValuSoft MasterCookYouTube
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What food preparation workers do
Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
Weigh or measure ingredients.
Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Also called
CookDeli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk)Dietary AideFood Service Worker (FSW)Cook AideDiet AideFood Prep (Food Preparer)Food Service AideLine CookNutrition Aide
More job titles for this occupation (64)
Back of House Team Member (BOH Team Member)Cafeteria AideCarverCatererCaterer HelperCatering AssistantChicken and Fish ButcherCoffee BrewerCoffee MakerCold Meat CookCrew Mess AttendantCulinary WorkerDeli Slicer (Delicatessen Slicer)DishwasherExpo (Expeditor)Food Expeditor (Food Expo)Food HandlerFood Order Expediter (Food Order Expo)Food Preparation Kitchen Aide (Food Prep Kitchen Aide)Food Preparation Worker (Food Prep Worker)Food ServerFood Service SpecialistFood Tray AssemblerFruit and Vegetable ParerKitchen AssistantKitchen ClerkKitchen CrewKitchen Crew MemberKitchen Food AssemblerKitchen HelperKitchen RunnerKitchen StaffKitchen StewardKitchen Team Crew MemberKitchen Team MemberKitchen Utility AssociateKitchen Utility WorkerKitchen WorkerLine ServerMeat ClerkMess AttendantNutrition HelperPantry CookPantry Goods MakerPantry Goods WorkerPantry WorkerParerPastry Cook HelperPeelerPie CutterPizza MakerPrepared Foods Team MemberProduce Production Team MemberRaw Shellfish PreparerRestaurant Crew MemberRestaurant Team MemberRestaurant WorkerSalad Bar ClerkSalad MakerSandwich ArtistSandwich MakerSeafood PreparerSlicerSteward
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Food Preparation Workers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $35,320.
