Food Preparation Worker Salary in Seattle, WA
Food Preparation Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $43,830 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,397 take-home, or $3,116 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,080
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,717
- Medicare (1.45%)$636
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,397
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,410 | $17.02 | $30,632 | $2,553 |
| 25th percentile | $38,120 | $18.33 | $32,809 | $2,734 |
| Median (50th) | $43,830 | $21.07 | $37,397 | $3,116 |
| 75th percentile | $49,190 | $23.65 | $41,704 | $3,475 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,700 | $26.30 | $46,131 | $3,844 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,830 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $37,397 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,651 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $43,830 a year, or about $21.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,120 and $49,190.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $43,830 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $37,397 a year ($3,116 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,651 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430