Food Preparation Worker Salary in Denver, CO
Food Preparation Workers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $39,470 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,866 take-home, or $2,739 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,556
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,447
- Medicare (1.45%)$572
- Colorado income tax$1,028
- Take-home pay$32,866
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,281 | $2,190 |
| 25th percentile | $35,590 | $17.11 | $29,919 | $2,493 |
| Median (50th) | $39,470 | $18.98 | $32,866 | $2,739 |
| 75th percentile | $44,890 | $21.58 | $36,982 | $3,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,600 | $23.37 | $39,800 | $3,317 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,470 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,866 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,069 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $39,470 | $32,866 | $31,069 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Denver, CO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $39,470 a year, or about $18.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,590 and $44,890.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $39,470 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $32,866 a year ($2,739 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,028 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,069 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #11 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,340