Food Preparation Worker Salary in Boulder, CO
Food Preparation Workers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $39,690 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,033 take-home, or $2,753 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,583
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,461
- Medicare (1.45%)$576
- Colorado income tax$1,038
- Take-home pay$33,033
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,290 | $15.04 | $26,653 | $2,221 |
| 25th percentile | $36,700 | $17.64 | $30,762 | $2,564 |
| Median (50th) | $39,690 | $19.08 | $33,033 | $2,753 |
| 75th percentile | $45,730 | $21.99 | $37,620 | $3,135 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,200 | $24.13 | $41,015 | $3,418 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,690 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $33,033 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,400 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 less concentrated in Boulder, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #42 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 |
| 42 | Boulder, CO | $39,690 | $33,033 | $31,400 |
*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 Colorado
- Greeley, CO — $39,150
- Colorado Springs, CO — $37,450
- Denver, CO — $39,470
- Fort Collins, CO — $36,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Boulder, CO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $39,690 a year, or about $19.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,700 and $45,730.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $39,690 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $33,033 a year ($2,753 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,038 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,400 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #42 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 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 Boulder, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Bartender — $42,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,220
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190