Food Preparation Workers pay range in Elizabethtown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,760 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Elizabethtown earn between $22,700 and $28,890.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $24KMedian
- $29K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,650 | $2,221 | $12.81 |
| Median | $23,600 | $1,967 | $11.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,700 | $1,892 | $10.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,890 | $2,408 | $13.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Elizabethtown vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Elizabethtown earn 7% less than the Kentucky average ($28,760) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $26,650 | $23,600 | $21,170 | $35,760 | 490 |
| Kentucky | $28,760 | $26,850 | $20,900 | $37,830 | 15,390 |
| 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 Elizabethtown
On the average salary of $26,650, a single filer in Elizabethtown takes home about $22,221 a year, or $1,852 a month and $855 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Elizabethtown's local income tax (1.95%).
Is Elizabethtown a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Elizabethtown area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.6), so the average $26,650 buys what about $29,424 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Elizabethtown ($46,810). A typical home costs $253,920, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Elizabethtown ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($31,570).
- Louisville$31,570
- Lexington$29,230
- Paducah$28,490
- Owensboro$28,220
- Bowling Green$28,000
- Elizabethtown$26,650
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 Elizabethtown: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Elizabethtown?
$12.81 an hour on average, and $11.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Elizabethtown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Elizabethtown?
About $22,221 a year ($1,852 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,650. Includes Elizabethtown's local income tax (1.95%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Elizabethtown than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Elizabethtown, KY (21060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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). Includes Elizabethtown's local income tax (1.95%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.65, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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