Food Preparation Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Food Preparation Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $35,320 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 893,600. Wage data is published for 447 locations.
Occupation description
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
O*NET code
35-2021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$35,320
Hourly median
$16.98
Employment
893,600
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 2.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.12 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.12 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.75 | 2.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Monitoring | 2.50 | 1.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.38 | 2.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
Technology
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
- CBORD Foodservice Suite
- CBORD NetRecipe
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- EGS CALCMENU
- iPro
- Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook
- Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard
- MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Quizlet
- Recipe software
- ValuSoft MasterCook
Food Preparation Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in CAMedian $39,350 · Employment 112,750
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in TXMedian $30,650 · Employment 81,280
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in FLMedian $35,920 · Employment 73,100
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $35,670 · Employment 63,530
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in NYMedian $35,610 · Employment 62,380
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $39,770 · Employment 44,930
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in ILMedian $34,850 · Employment 34,820
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in LAMedian $23,620 · Employment 30,920
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $35,410 · Employment 27,100
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in GAMedian $35,250 · Employment 26,450
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in NCMedian $30,260 · Employment 24,960
- Food Preparation Workers Salary in NJMedian $35,540 · Employment 24,730
Related careers
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNational median $44,810
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNational median $38,300
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNational median $35,730
- Food BatchmakersNational median $42,290
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersNational median $41,590
- Food Service ManagersNational median $69,390
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersNational median $44,080
- DishwashersNational median $34,810
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.