Food Preparation Worker Salary in Bend, OR
Food Preparation Workers in the Bend, OR metro area earn a median $38,010 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,225 take-home, or $2,519 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Bend, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,381
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,357
- Medicare (1.45%)$551
- Oregon income tax$2,496
- Take-home pay$30,225
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Bend, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,400 | $16.06 | $26,924 | $2,244 |
| 25th percentile | $35,520 | $17.08 | $28,442 | $2,370 |
| Median (50th) | $38,010 | $18.27 | $30,225 | $2,519 |
| 75th percentile | $44,690 | $21.49 | $35,008 | $2,917 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,090 | $23.60 | $38,158 | $3,180 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,010 buys in Bend, OR
Prices in Bend, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,225 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,173 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bend, OR has 1.2× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Bend, OR ranks #136 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 |
| 136 | Bend, OR | $38,010 | $30,225 | $29,173 |
*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 Oregon
- Portland, OR — $38,730
- Salem, OR — $37,300
- Eugene, OR — $36,160
- Medford, OR — $35,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Bend, OR?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Bend, OR metro area is $38,010 a year, or about $18.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,520 and $44,690.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Bend, OR?
On the median $38,010 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $30,225 a year ($2,519 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,496 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Bend, OR a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,173 would in a typical U.S. city. Bend, OR ranks #136 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Bend, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bend, OR is $1,297 a month ($1,689 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bend, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $50,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,540
- Bartender — $42,670
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $40,090
- Dishwasher — $36,400
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,460