Food Preparation Workers pay range in Kenosha
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,010 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Kenosha earn between $28,850 and $40,000.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $40K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,480 | $2,873 | $16.58 |
| Median | $34,840 | $2,903 | $16.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,850 | $2,404 | $13.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Kenosha vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Kenosha earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($34,000) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | $34,480 | $34,840 | $27,330 | $45,010 | 490 |
| 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 Kenosha
On the average salary of $34,480, a single filer in Kenosha takes home about $29,073 a year, or $2,423 a month and $1,118 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 Kenosha a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Kenosha area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.1), so the average $34,480 buys what about $34,099 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Kenosha ($48,310). A typical home costs $247,800, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Kenosha ranks 3rd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($36,760).
- Madison$36,760
- Milwaukee$35,080
- Kenosha$34,480
- Appleton$33,740
- La Crosse$33,540
- Oshkosh$33,500
- Sheboygan$33,280
- Eau Claire$33,190
- Janesville$32,770
- Wausau$32,570
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 Kenosha: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Kenosha?
$16.58 an hour on average, and $16.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Kenosha?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Kenosha?
About $29,073 a year ($2,423 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,480.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Kenosha 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 Kenosha, WI (28450). 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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