Food Preparation Worker Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $39,770 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,038 take-home, or $2,753 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,592
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,466
- Medicare (1.45%)$577
- California income tax$580
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$517
- Take-home pay$33,038
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,000 | $17.31 | $30,209 | $2,517 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 | $31,334 | $2,611 |
| Median (50th) | $39,770 | $19.12 | $33,038 | $2,753 |
| 75th percentile | $44,170 | $21.24 | $36,340 | $3,028 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,810 | $22.50 | $38,322 | $3,193 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,770 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $33,038 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,092 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #38 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 |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 | $33,038 | $29,092 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $45,580
- Riverside, CA — $38,420
- Sacramento, CA — $38,480
- San Francisco, CA — $41,000
- San Diego, CA — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $39,770 a year, or about $19.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,500 and $44,170.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $39,770 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,038 a year ($2,753 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,097 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,092 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #38 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 82% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,850