Food Preparation Workers pay range in Kahului
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,710 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Kahului earn between $36,780 and $53,130.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $47KMedian
- $53K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,150 | $4,012 | $23.15 |
| Median | $46,680 | $3,890 | $22.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,780 | $3,065 | $17.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,130 | $4,428 | $25.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Kahului vs. Hawaii and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Kahului earn 16% more than the Hawaii average ($41,670) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului | $48,150 | $46,680 | $34,510 | $70,710 | 720 |
| Hawaii | $41,670 | $38,160 | $29,950 | $57,720 | 5,950 |
| 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 Kahului
On the average salary of $48,150, a single filer in Kahului takes home about $38,977 a year, or $3,248 a month and $1,499 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Is Kahului a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Kahului area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.4), so the average $48,150 buys what about $44,016 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Kahului ($57,640). A typical home costs $997,307, or 20.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Hawaii cities
Kahului ranks 1st of 2 Hawaii metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Kahului$48,150
- Honolulu$40,080
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 Kahului: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Kahului?
$23.15 an hour on average, and $22.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Kahului?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Kahului?
About $38,977 a year ($3,248 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,150. Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Kahului than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Kahului-Wailuku, HI (27980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.70, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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