Food Preparation Worker Salary in Riverside, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $38,420 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,025 take-home, or $2,669 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,430
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,382
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- California income tax$526
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$499
- Take-home pay$32,025
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,970 | $16.81 | $29,436 | $2,453 |
| Median (50th) | $38,420 | $18.47 | $32,025 | $2,669 |
| 75th percentile | $45,090 | $21.68 | $37,031 | $3,086 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,040 | $23.10 | $39,224 | $3,269 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,420 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,025 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,087 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $38,420 | $32,025 | $30,087 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $38,480
- San Francisco, CA — $41,000
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
- San Diego, CA — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Riverside, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $38,420 a year, or about $18.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,970 and $45,090.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $38,420 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,025 a year ($2,669 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,026 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,087 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #22 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,990
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,470
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,280
- Dishwasher — $36,710
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,260
- Bartender — $34,840
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,830
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,800
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,590