Food Preparation Workers Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$39,350
Median hourly
$19
Average annual
$41,480
Employed in state
113K
The median annual salary for Food Preparation Workers in California is $39,350, or about $19 an hour. That is 11% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $35,190 at the 10th percentile to $48,470 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 113K people work as food preparation workers in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$35,190
25th$37,010
Median$39,350
75th$44,540
90th$48,470
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $18.92
- Daily
- $151
- Weekly
- $757
- Bi-weekly
- $1,513
- Monthly
- $3,279
- Annual
- $39,350
$39,350 a year is around the 50th percentile for Food Preparation Workerss in California. The median is $39,350.
Food Preparation Workers pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,580 | 5.9K |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $42,640 | 1.4K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,000 | 14K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | 45K |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,110 | 830 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 | 930 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,780 | 9.4K |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 | 320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | 900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,480 | 5.5K |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 | 1.2K |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,470 | 1.5K |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 | 1.2K |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990