Food Preparation Workers pay range in Boise
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,960 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Boise earn between $28,580 and $37,340.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,940 | $2,828 | $16.32 |
| Median | $35,340 | $2,945 | $16.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,580 | $2,382 | $13.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,340 | $3,112 | $17.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Boise vs. Idaho and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Boise earn 5% more than the Idaho average ($32,380) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $33,940 | $35,340 | $22,640 | $44,960 | 1,830 |
| Idaho | $32,380 | $31,510 | $22,150 | $40,260 | 4,670 |
| 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 Boise
On the average salary of $33,940, a single filer in Boise takes home about $28,760 a year, or $2,397 a month and $1,106 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). Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
Is Boise a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boise area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.4), so the average $33,940 buys what about $34,495 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boise ($49,100). A typical home costs $496,288, or 14.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Idaho cities
Boise ranks 3rd of 6 Idaho metro areas for this job; Coeur d'Alene pays the most ($35,200).
- Coeur d'Alene$35,200
- Lewiston$33,960
- Boise$33,940
- Idaho Falls$31,830
- Twin Falls$31,810
- Pocatello$30,890
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 Boise: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Boise?
$16.32 an hour on average, and $16.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Boise?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Boise?
About $28,760 a year ($2,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,940. Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Boise than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Boise City, ID (14260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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