Food Preparation Worker Salary in San Francisco, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $41,000 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,961 take-home, or $2,830 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,740
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,542
- Medicare (1.45%)$595
- California income tax$629
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$533
- Take-home pay$33,961
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 Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.60 | $30,659 | $2,555 |
| 25th percentile | $37,910 | $18.23 | $31,642 | $2,637 |
| Median (50th) | $41,000 | $19.71 | $33,961 | $2,830 |
| 75th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 | $38,239 | $3,187 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,270 | $26.09 | $43,775 | $3,648 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,000 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $33,961 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,375 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | San Francisco, CA | $41,000 | $33,961 | $29,375 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
- San Diego, CA — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in San Francisco, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $41,000 a year, or about $19.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,910 and $46,700.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $41,000 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,961 a year ($2,830 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,162 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,375 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #34 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 93% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $68,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $49,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $46,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,030
- Cooks, Short Order — $45,790
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $44,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,870
- Dishwasher — $42,100
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $41,970
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $39,810
- Bartender — $39,670