Food Preparation Worker Salary in Omaha, NE
Food Preparation Workers in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn a median $36,140 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,454 take-home, or $2,538 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Omaha, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,157
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,241
- Medicare (1.45%)$524
- Nebraska income tax$765
- Take-home pay$30,454
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
The Omaha, NE-IA metro spans Nebraska, Iowa. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Omaha, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,100 | $13.99 | $25,070 | $2,089 |
| 25th percentile | $29,800 | $14.33 | $25,608 | $2,134 |
| Median (50th) | $36,140 | $17.38 | $30,454 | $2,538 |
| 75th percentile | $37,930 | $18.24 | $31,810 | $2,651 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,680 | $21.00 | $36,169 | $3,014 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,140 buys in Omaha, NE
Prices in Omaha, NE are 8.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,454 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,134 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Omaha, NE 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
Omaha, NE ranks #3 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 |
*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 Omaha, NE?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area is $36,140 a year, or about $17.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,800 and $37,930.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Omaha, NE?
On the median $36,140 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $30,454 a year ($2,538 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $765 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Omaha, NE a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,134 would in a typical U.S. city. Omaha, NE ranks #3 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Omaha, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Omaha, NE is $1,144 a month ($1,362 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Omaha, NE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,740
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,840
- Bartender — $34,630
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,290
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,450