Food Preparation Workers pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,810 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Los Angeles earn between $37,500 and $44,170.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $40KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,220 | $3,435 | $19.82 |
| Median | $39,770 | $3,314 | $19.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,500 | $3,125 | $18.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,170 | $3,681 | $21.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($41,480) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $41,220 | $39,770 | $36,000 | $46,810 | 44,930 |
| 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 Los Angeles
On the average salary of $41,220, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $34,516 a year, or $2,876 a month and $1,328 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 Los Angeles a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $41,220 buys what about $36,296 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 23.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 8th 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
- San Diego$40,890
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Los Angeles?
$19.82 an hour on average, and $19.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $34,516 a year ($2,876 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.