Food Preparation Worker Salary in Bozeman, MT
Food Preparation Workers in the Bozeman, MT metro area earn a median $38,260 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,880 take-home, or $2,657 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Bozeman, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,411
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,372
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- Montana income tax$1,042
- Take-home pay$31,880
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Bozeman, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,170 | $14.02 | $25,004 | $2,084 |
| 25th percentile | $31,820 | $15.30 | $27,009 | $2,251 |
| Median (50th) | $38,260 | $18.39 | $31,880 | $2,657 |
| 75th percentile | $42,300 | $20.34 | $34,937 | $2,911 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,280 | $23.21 | $39,461 | $3,288 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,260 buys in Bozeman, MT
Prices in Bozeman, MT are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.39× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,100 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 Bozeman, MT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Bozeman, MT ranks #54 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 |
| 54 | Bozeman, MT | $38,260 | $31,880 | $31,100 |
*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 Montana
- Billings, MT — $34,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Bozeman, MT?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Bozeman, MT metro area is $38,260 a year, or about $18.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,820 and $42,300.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Bozeman, MT?
On the median $38,260 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $31,880 a year ($2,657 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,042 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Bozeman, MT a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,100 would in a typical U.S. city. Bozeman, MT ranks #54 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Bozeman, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bozeman, MT is $1,642 a month ($2,154 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bozeman, MT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,290
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,840
- Bartender — $27,040
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,380