Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $40,510 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lincoln earn between $32,840 and $36,970.
- $29K10th
- $33K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,290 | $2,941 | $16.97 |
| Median | $35,210 | $2,934 | $16.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,840 | $2,737 | $15.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,970 | $3,081 | $17.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lincoln earn about the same as the Nebraska average ($34,880) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $35,290 | $35,210 | $29,100 | $40,510 | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | $34,880 | $35,210 | $28,740 | $42,560 | 6,890 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $35,290, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $29,809 a year, or $2,484 a month and $1,147 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 Lincoln a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $35,290 buys what about $38,534 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 2nd of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job; Omaha pays the most ($35,610).
- Omaha$35,610
- Lincoln$35,290
- Grand Island$34,340
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lincoln?
$16.97 an hour on average, and $16.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $29,809 a year ($2,484 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,290.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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