Food Preparation Workers pay range in Amarillo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,360 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Amarillo earn between $26,050 and $34,900.
- $23K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $35K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,390 | $2,532 | $14.61 |
| Median | $29,160 | $2,430 | $14.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,050 | $2,171 | $12.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,900 | $2,908 | $16.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Amarillo vs. Texas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Amarillo earn 5% less than the Texas average ($32,120) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $30,390 | $29,160 | $22,700 | $38,360 | 770 |
| Texas | $32,120 | $30,650 | $22,790 | $42,450 | 81,280 |
| 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 Amarillo
On the average salary of $30,390, a single filer in Amarillo takes home about $26,598 a year, or $2,217 a month and $1,023 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Amarillo a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amarillo area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $30,390 buys what about $33,097 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Amarillo ($44,580). A typical home costs $219,904, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Texas cities
Amarillo ranks 11th of 26 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($34,550).
- Austin$34,550
- Midland$33,700
- Houston$33,220
- College Station$33,200
- Dallas$32,960
- San Antonio$32,900
- Wichita Falls$32,040
- Odessa$31,830
- Killeen$31,520
- Amarillo$30,390
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 Amarillo: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Amarillo?
$14.61 an hour on average, and $14.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Amarillo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Amarillo?
About $26,598 a year ($2,217 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,390. Texas has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Amarillo than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Amarillo, TX (11100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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