Food Preparation Workers pay range in Valdosta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,180 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Valdosta earn between $25,200 and $33,870.
- $22K10th
- $25K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,170 | $2,431 | $14.02 |
| Median | $29,020 | $2,418 | $13.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,200 | $2,100 | $12.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,870 | $2,822 | $16.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Valdosta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Valdosta earn 14% less than the Georgia average ($33,970) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta | $29,170 | $29,020 | $21,670 | $36,180 | 340 |
| Georgia | $33,970 | $35,250 | $24,840 | $40,390 | 26,450 |
| 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 Valdosta
On the average salary of $29,170, a single filer in Valdosta takes home about $24,911 a year, or $2,076 a month and $958 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Valdosta a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Valdosta area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $29,170 buys what about $33,046 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Valdosta ($39,110). A typical home costs $226,628, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Georgia cities
Valdosta ranks 13th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($35,390).
- Atlanta$35,390
- Gainesville$34,260
- Savannah$33,290
- Warner Robins$32,190
- Augusta$31,740
- Macon$31,440
- Athens$31,430
- Brunswick$31,410
- Albany$30,730
- Valdosta$29,170
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 Valdosta: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Valdosta?
$14.03 an hour on average, and $13.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Valdosta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Valdosta?
About $24,911 a year ($2,076 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,170.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Valdosta than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Valdosta, GA (46660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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