Food Preparation Workers pay range in Hanford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,430 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Hanford earn between $35,830 and $43,000.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,800 | $3,400 | $19.62 |
| Median | $37,430 | $3,119 | $18.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,830 | $2,986 | $17.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,000 | $3,583 | $20.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Hanford vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Hanford earn about the same as the California average ($41,480) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford | $40,800 | $37,430 | $34,500 | $50,430 | 260 |
| California | $41,480 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Hanford
On the average salary of $40,800, a single filer in Hanford takes home about $34,195 a year, or $2,850 a month and $1,315 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Hanford a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hanford area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.6), so the average $40,800 buys what about $40,153 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hanford ($48,470). A typical home costs $365,078, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Hanford ranks 12th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($45,660).
- San Jose$45,660
- Napa$44,240
- Santa Rosa$43,450
- San Francisco$43,290
- Santa Cruz$42,060
- Vallejo$41,390
- San Luis Obispo$41,340
- Los Angeles$41,220
- Salinas$41,130
- Hanford$40,800
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Hanford: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Hanford?
$19.62 an hour on average, and $18.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Hanford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Hanford?
About $34,195 a year ($2,850 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,800. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Hanford than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Hanford-Corcoran, CA (25260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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