Food Preparation Worker Salary in Dallas, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $30,740 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,880 take-home, or $2,240 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,509
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,906
- Medicare (1.45%)$446
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,880
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,320 | $11.69 | $21,638 | $1,803 |
| 25th percentile | $27,910 | $13.42 | $24,594 | $2,049 |
| Median (50th) | $30,740 | $14.78 | $26,880 | $2,240 |
| 75th percentile | $37,040 | $17.81 | $31,942 | $2,662 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,110 | $21.21 | $37,622 | $3,135 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,740 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,074 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #60 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 60 | Dallas, TX | $30,740 | $26,880 | $26,074 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $34,390
- Austin, TX — $34,880
- Houston, TX — $35,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Dallas, TX?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $30,740 a year, or about $14.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,910 and $37,040.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $30,740 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $26,880 a year ($2,240 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,074 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #60 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,730
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,490
- Dishwasher — $31,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,160
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,890
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,070
- Bartender — $24,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,160
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,050