Food Preparation Workers pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,980 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Louisville earn between $26,540 and $36,470.
- $21K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,570 | $2,631 | $15.18 |
| Median | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,540 | $2,212 | $12.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,470 | $3,039 | $17.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Louisville earn 10% more than the Kentucky average ($28,760) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $31,570 | $29,640 | $21,250 | $39,980 | 4,910 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $31,570, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $25,865 a year, or $2,155 a month and $995 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $26,629 | $2,219 |
| Working in KY | $25,865 | $2,155 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $31,570 buys what about $33,919 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Louisville: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Louisville?
$15.18 an hour on average, and $14.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Louisville?
About $25,865 a year ($2,155 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,570. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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