Food Preparation Workers pay range in Bozeman
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,280 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Bozeman earn between $31,820 and $42,300.
- $29K10th
- $32K25th
- $38KMedian
- $42K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,080 | $3,173 | $18.31 |
| Median | $38,260 | $3,188 | $18.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,820 | $2,652 | $15.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,300 | $3,525 | $20.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Bozeman vs. Montana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Bozeman earn 13% more than the Montana average ($33,700) and 8% more than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $38,080 | $38,260 | $29,170 | $48,280 | 480 |
| Montana | $33,700 | $33,860 | $26,000 | $43,410 | 2,990 |
| 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 Bozeman
On the average salary of $38,080, a single filer in Bozeman takes home about $31,744 a year, or $2,645 a month and $1,221 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).
Is Bozeman a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bozeman area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.5), so the average $38,080 buys what about $37,148 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Bozeman ($54,830). A typical home costs $705,739, or 18.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Montana cities
Bozeman ranks 1st of 5 Montana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Bozeman$38,080
- Missoula$34,220
- Billings$34,030
- Helena$33,440
- Great Falls$31,220
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 Bozeman: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Bozeman?
$18.31 an hour on average, and $18.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Bozeman?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Bozeman?
About $31,744 a year ($2,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,080.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Bozeman than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more 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 Bozeman, MT (14580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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