Food Preparation Workers pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $41,290 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Helena earn between $28,810 and $36,020.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $36K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,440 | $2,787 | $16.08 |
| Median | $34,960 | $2,913 | $16.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,810 | $2,401 | $13.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,020 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($33,700) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $33,440 | $34,960 | $24,020 | $41,290 | 210 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $33,440, a single filer in Helena takes home about $28,234 a year, or $2,353 a month and $1,086 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 (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $33,440 buys what about $34,952 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 14.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 4th of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($38,080).
- 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 Helena: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Helena?
$16.08 an hour on average, and $16.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Helena?
About $28,234 a year ($2,353 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,440.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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