Food Preparation Workers pay range in Pueblo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,180 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Pueblo earn between $30,900 and $38,900.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Median | $35,620 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,900 | $2,575 | $14.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,900 | $3,242 | $18.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Pueblo vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Pueblo earn 8% less than the Colorado average ($40,210) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo | $36,810 | $35,620 | $30,800 | $45,180 | 260 |
| Colorado | $40,210 | $38,960 | $30,800 | $49,000 | 12,080 |
| 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 Pueblo
On the average salary of $36,810, a single filer in Pueblo takes home about $30,846 a year, or $2,570 a month and $1,186 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Pueblo a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pueblo area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $36,810 buys what about $40,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Pueblo ($48,940). A typical home costs $287,672, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Colorado cities
Pueblo ranks 7th of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job; Boulder pays the most ($41,960).
- Boulder$41,960
- Denver$40,470
- Greeley$40,080
- Colorado Springs$39,300
- Fort Collins$37,800
- Grand Junction$36,850
- Pueblo$36,810
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 Pueblo: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Pueblo?
$17.70 an hour on average, and $17.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Pueblo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Pueblo?
About $30,846 a year ($2,570 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,810. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Pueblo than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Pueblo, CO (39380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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