Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Salary in San Diego, CA
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $36,330 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,456 take-home, or $2,538 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation and serving related workers, all other salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,252
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- California income tax$443
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$472
- Take-home pay$30,456
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 | $29,608 | $2,467 |
| Median (50th) | $36,330 | $17.47 | $30,456 | $2,538 |
| 75th percentile | $38,880 | $18.69 | $32,370 | $2,698 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,540 | $21.89 | $37,368 | $3,114 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,330 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation and serving related workers, all other's $30,456 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,221 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 4.0× the national concentration of food preparation and serving related workers, all other jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation and serving related workers, all other, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #3 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $41,970 | $34,689 | $30,005 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $35,260 | $29,653 | $27,859 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $36,330 | $30,456 | $27,221 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,810 | $30,817 | $27,135 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $35,060 | $29,054 | $25,812 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: food preparation and serving related workers, all other
All food preparation and serving related workers not listed separately.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $41,970
- Riverside, CA — $35,260
- Los Angeles, CA — $36,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related workers, all other make in San Diego, CA?
The median food preparation and serving related workers, all other salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $36,330 a year, or about $17.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,200 and $38,880.
What is a food preparation and serving related workers, all other’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $36,330 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,456 a year ($2,538 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $915 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a food preparation and serving related workers, all other?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,840. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,221 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #3 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation and serving related workers, all other afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 97% of a median food preparation and serving related workers, all other’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,960