Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lewiston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,950 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lewiston earn between $28,180 and $36,850.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,960 | $2,830 | $16.33 |
| Median | $35,780 | $2,982 | $17.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,180 | $2,348 | $13.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,850 | $3,071 | $17.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lewiston vs. Idaho and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lewiston 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 +1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $33,960 | $35,780 | $22,360 | $45,950 | 170 |
| 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 Lewiston
On the average salary of $33,960, a single filer in Lewiston takes home about $28,775 a year, or $2,398 a month and $1,107 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Lewiston, ID-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $29,467 | $2,456 |
| Working in ID | $28,775 | $2,398 |
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 Lewiston a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lewiston area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.2), so the average $33,960 buys what about $37,253 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lewiston ($48,300). A typical home costs $376,787, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Idaho cities
Lewiston ranks 2nd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Lewiston: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lewiston?
$16.33 an hour on average, and $17.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lewiston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lewiston?
About $28,775 a year ($2,398 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,960. Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lewiston 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 Lewiston, ID-WA (30300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.