Food Preparation Workers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,410 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in San Diego earn between $37,190 and $43,780.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,890 | $3,408 | $19.66 |
| Median | $38,780 | $3,232 | $18.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,190 | $3,099 | $17.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,780 | $3,648 | $21.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in San Diego 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 +10% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $40,890 | $38,780 | $35,820 | $47,410 | 9,360 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $40,890, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $34,264 a year, or $2,855 a month and $1,318 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 San Diego a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $40,890 buys what about $36,546 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 23.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 10th 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
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Food Preparation Workers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in San Diego?
$19.66 an hour on average, and $18.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $34,264 a year ($2,855 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,890. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in San Diego 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). 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 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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