Food Preparation Worker Salary in Amarillo, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Amarillo, TX metro area earn a median $29,160 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,610 take-home, or $2,134 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Amarillo, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,319
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,808
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,610
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Amarillo, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,700 | $10.91 | $20,303 | $1,692 |
| 25th percentile | $26,050 | $12.52 | $23,062 | $1,922 |
| Median (50th) | $29,160 | $14.02 | $25,610 | $2,134 |
| 75th percentile | $34,900 | $16.78 | $30,222 | $2,519 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,360 | $18.44 | $33,002 | $2,750 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,160 buys in Amarillo, TX
Prices in Amarillo, TX are 8.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,610 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,892 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 Amarillo, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Amarillo, TX ranks #184 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 184 | Amarillo, TX | $29,160 | $25,610 | $27,892 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Wichita Falls, TX — $35,700
- College Station, TX — $34,380
- San Antonio, TX — $34,390
- Austin, TX — $34,880
- Houston, TX — $35,020
- Midland, TX — $33,200
- Killeen, TX — $30,300
- Odessa, TX — $30,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Amarillo, TX?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Amarillo, TX metro area is $29,160 a year, or about $14.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,050 and $34,900.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Amarillo, TX?
On the median $29,160 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $25,610 a year ($2,134 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Amarillo, TX a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,892 would in a typical U.S. city. Amarillo, TX ranks #184 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Amarillo, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Amarillo, TX is $903 a month ($1,106 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Amarillo, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,710
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,380
- Bartender — $21,050