Food Preparation Workers pay range in Bay City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,950 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Bay City earn between $25,960 and $31,760.
- $26K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $32K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,020 | $2,502 | $14.43 |
| Median | $28,790 | $2,399 | $13.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,960 | $2,163 | $12.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,760 | $2,647 | $15.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Bay City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Bay City earn 8% less than the Michigan average ($32,720) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | $30,020 | $28,790 | $25,960 | $35,950 | 150 |
| Michigan | $32,720 | $31,180 | $26,540 | $38,620 | 17,380 |
| 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 Bay City
On the average salary of $30,020, a single filer in Bay City takes home about $25,272 a year, or $2,106 a month and $972 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Bay City a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bay City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $30,020 buys what about $32,658 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bay City ($45,620). A typical home costs $186,601, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Michigan cities
Bay City ranks 14th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($34,160).
- Ann Arbor$34,160
- Detroit$33,680
- Grand Rapids$33,310
- Traverse City$33,290
- Kalamazoo$32,680
- Jackson$32,280
- Flint$32,210
- Lansing$31,810
- Muskegon$31,480
- Bay City$30,020
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 Bay City: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Bay City?
$14.43 an hour on average, and $13.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Bay City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Bay City?
About $25,272 a year ($2,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,020.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Bay City than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Bay City, MI (13020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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