Food Preparation Workers pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,890 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Rockford earn between $31,200 and $35,040.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $33KMedian
- $35K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,330 | $2,861 | $16.50 |
| Median | $32,530 | $2,711 | $15.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,040 | $2,920 | $16.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Rockford earn 5% less than the Illinois average ($36,260) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $34,330 | $32,530 | $31,200 | $39,890 | 720 |
| Illinois | $36,260 | $34,850 | $31,200 | $44,990 | 34,820 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $34,330, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $28,206 a year, or $2,350 a month and $1,085 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Rockford a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $34,330 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 Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 3rd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($36,980).
- Chicago$36,980
- Decatur$34,380
- Rockford$34,330
- Champaign$34,180
- Peoria$34,050
- Springfield$33,860
- Bloomington$33,590
- Kankakee$33,530
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 Rockford: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Rockford?
$16.51 an hour on average, and $15.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Rockford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Rockford?
About $28,206 a year ($2,350 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,330.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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