Food Preparation Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $38,780 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,295 take-home, or $2,691 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,474
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,404
- Medicare (1.45%)$562
- California income tax$541
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$504
- Take-home pay$32,295
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,820 | $17.22 | $30,074 | $2,506 |
| 25th percentile | $37,190 | $17.88 | $31,102 | $2,592 |
| Median (50th) | $38,780 | $18.64 | $32,295 | $2,691 |
| 75th percentile | $43,780 | $21.05 | $36,048 | $3,004 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,410 | $22.79 | $38,764 | $3,230 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,780 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,295 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,864 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #40 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 |
| 40 | San Diego, CA | $38,780 | $32,295 | $28,864 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38,780 a year, or about $18.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,190 and $43,780.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $38,780 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,295 a year ($2,691 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,045 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,864 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #40 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 91% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,960