Food Preparation Workers pay range in Eau Claire
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,390 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Eau Claire earn between $28,020 and $37,160.
- $26K10th
- $28K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,190 | $2,766 | $15.96 |
| Median | $33,680 | $2,807 | $16.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,020 | $2,335 | $13.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,160 | $3,097 | $17.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Eau Claire vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Eau Claire earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($34,000) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $33,190 | $33,680 | $25,860 | $43,390 | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $34,000 | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | 17,990 |
| 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 Eau Claire
On the average salary of $33,190, a single filer in Eau Claire takes home about $28,100 a year, or $2,342 a month and $1,081 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Eau Claire a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Eau Claire area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.8), so the average $33,190 buys what about $35,767 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Eau Claire ($48,100). A typical home costs $327,164, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Eau Claire ranks 8th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($36,760).
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 Eau Claire: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Eau Claire?
$15.96 an hour on average, and $16.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Eau Claire?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Eau Claire?
About $28,100 a year ($2,342 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,190.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Eau Claire than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Eau Claire, WI (20740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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