Cooks and Food Preparation Workers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for cooks and food preparation workerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $36,630 ≈ $18/hr
National median salary $36,310
Total employment 3,544,690 nationwide
State-level and metro breakdowns aren’t published for this aggregate occupation group. National figures are shown above; browse a specific occupation for full state detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do cooks and food preparation workers make in the U.S.?
The median cooks and food preparation workers salary in the United States is $36,310 per year (mean $36,630), and about 80% earn between $26,520 and $47,130.
How much do cooks and food preparation workers make per hour?
Roughly $18 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $36,630 and 2,080 work hours per year.