Food Preparation Worker Salary in Eugene, OR
Food Preparation Workers in the Eugene-Springfield, OR metro area earn a median $36,160 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,900 take-home, or $2,408 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Eugene, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,159
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,242
- Medicare (1.45%)$524
- Oregon income tax$2,334
- Take-home pay$28,900
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Eugene, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,840 | $14.83 | $25,091 | $2,091 |
| 25th percentile | $33,670 | $16.19 | $27,117 | $2,260 |
| Median (50th) | $36,160 | $17.38 | $28,900 | $2,408 |
| 75th percentile | $40,310 | $19.38 | $31,872 | $2,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,380 | $21.82 | $35,502 | $2,958 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,160 buys in Eugene, OR
Prices in Eugene, OR are 1.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,900 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,454 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 Eugene, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Eugene, OR ranks #163 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 |
| 163 | Eugene, OR | $36,160 | $28,900 | $28,454 |
*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
- Bend, OR — $38,010
- Portland, OR — $38,730
- Salem, OR — $37,300
- Medford, OR — $35,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Eugene, OR?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Eugene-Springfield, OR metro area is $36,160 a year, or about $17.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,670 and $40,310.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Eugene, OR?
On the median $36,160 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $28,900 a year ($2,408 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,334 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Eugene, OR a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 1.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,454 would in a typical U.S. city. Eugene, OR ranks #163 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Eugene, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Eugene, OR is $1,286 a month ($1,688 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Eugene, OR
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $43,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $42,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,900
- Bartender — $39,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,960
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,990
- Dishwasher — $33,850