Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Food Preparation Worker Salary in North Port, FL

Food Preparation Workers in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area earn a median $37,320 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,167 take-home, or $2,681 a month.

Median salary
$37,320
$17.94 per hour
Typical range
$29,690 – $44,060
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in North Port, FL
3,480
1.78× national concentration
▲3.6%
Pay trend: The median for food preparation workers in North Port, FL rose from $36,010 (May 2024) to $37,320 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.2%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in North Port, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Food Preparation Worker in North Port, FL
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$32,167
per year · effective tax rate 13.8%
$2,681Monthly
$1,340Twice a month
$1,237Every 2 weeks
$15.46Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,298
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,314
  • Medicare (1.45%)$541
  • Florida income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$32,167

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 North Port, FL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$29,690$14.27$26,036$2,170
25th percentile$34,000$16.35$29,499$2,458
Median (50th)$37,320$17.94$32,167$2,681
75th percentile$38,830$18.67$33,380$2,782
90th percentile (top earners)$44,060$21.18$37,582$3,132

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $37,320 buys in North Port, FL

Prices in North Port, FL are 2.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.28× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,167 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,408 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,686
63% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,958
73% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$995
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

North Port, FL has 1.8× 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

North Port, FL ranks #8 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Jose, CA $45,580$37,398$33,868
2Seattle, WA $43,830$37,397$33,651
3Omaha, NE $36,140$30,454$33,134
4Columbus, OH $36,930$31,620$33,121
5Cleveland, OH $35,360$30,402$32,369
6Jacksonville, FL $36,730$31,693$31,857
7San Antonio, TX $34,390$29,812$31,476
8North Port, FL $37,320$32,167$31,408

*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 Florida

Frequently asked questions

How much does a food preparation worker make in North Port, FL?

The median food preparation worker salary in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area is $37,320 a year, or about $17.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,000 and $38,830.

What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in North Port, FL?

On the median $37,320 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $32,167 a year ($2,681 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is North Port, FL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?

Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,408 would in a typical U.S. city. North Port, FL ranks #8 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a food preparation worker afford rent in North Port, FL?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in North Port, FL is $1,686 a month ($1,958 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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