Food Preparation Workers pay range in Omaha
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,680 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Omaha earn between $29,800 and $37,930.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Median | $36,140 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,800 | $2,483 | $14.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,930 | $3,161 | $18.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Omaha vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Omaha 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 +2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $35,610 | $36,140 | $29,100 | $43,680 | 3,690 |
| 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 Omaha
On the average salary of $35,610, a single filer in Omaha takes home about $30,052 a year, or $2,504 a month and $1,156 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Omaha, NE-IA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NE | $30,052 | $2,504 |
| Working in IA | $30,051 | $2,504 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Omaha a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Omaha area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $35,610 buys what about $38,744 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Omaha ($49,660). A typical home costs $310,337, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Nebraska cities
Omaha ranks 1st of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Omaha: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Omaha?
$17.12 an hour on average, and $17.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Omaha?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Omaha?
About $30,052 a year ($2,504 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,610.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Omaha 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 Omaha, NE-IA (36540). 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 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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