Food Preparation Workers pay range in Dallas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,110 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Dallas earn between $27,910 and $37,040.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,960 | $2,747 | $15.85 |
| Median | $30,740 | $2,562 | $14.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,910 | $2,326 | $13.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,040 | $3,087 | $17.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Dallas vs. Texas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Dallas earn about the same as the Texas average ($32,120) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $32,960 | $30,740 | $24,320 | $44,110 | 21,700 |
| 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 Dallas
On the average salary of $32,960, a single filer in Dallas takes home about $28,663 a year, or $2,389 a month and $1,102 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Dallas a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dallas area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.1), so the average $32,960 buys what about $31,972 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Dallas ($51,440). A typical home costs $366,823, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Texas cities
Dallas ranks 5th 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
- Waco$30,440
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 Dallas: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Dallas?
$15.85 an hour on average, and $14.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Dallas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Dallas?
About $28,663 a year ($2,389 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,960. Texas has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Dallas than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (19100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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