Food Preparation Worker Salary in Oklahoma City, OK
Food Preparation Workers in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area earn a median $30,160 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,602 take-home, or $2,133 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Oklahoma City, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,439
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,870
- Medicare (1.45%)$437
- Oklahoma income tax$812
- Take-home pay$25,602
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Oklahoma City, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,200 | $10.67 | $19,438 | $1,620 |
| 25th percentile | $26,770 | $12.87 | $22,996 | $1,916 |
| Median (50th) | $30,160 | $14.50 | $25,602 | $2,133 |
| 75th percentile | $35,120 | $16.88 | $29,364 | $2,447 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,190 | $17.40 | $30,176 | $2,515 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,160 buys in Oklahoma City, OK
Prices in Oklahoma City, OK are 9.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,602 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,318 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 Oklahoma City, OK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Oklahoma City, OK ranks #43 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 |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $30,160 | $25,602 | $28,318 |
*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 Oklahoma City, OK?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area is $30,160 a year, or about $14.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,770 and $35,120.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Oklahoma City, OK?
On the median $30,160 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $25,602 a year ($2,133 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $812 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Oklahoma City, OK a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,318 would in a typical U.S. city. Oklahoma City, OK ranks #43 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Oklahoma City, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oklahoma City, OK is $1,002 a month ($1,227 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Oklahoma City, OK
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,540
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,990
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,960
- Bartender — $24,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,200