Food Preparation Worker Salary in Gainesville, FL
Food Preparation Workers in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median $35,050 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,343 take-home, or $2,529 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Gainesville, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,026
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,173
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,343
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Gainesville, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,380 | $13.16 | $24,157 | $2,013 |
| 25th percentile | $30,260 | $14.55 | $26,494 | $2,208 |
| Median (50th) | $35,050 | $16.85 | $30,343 | $2,529 |
| 75th percentile | $36,690 | $17.64 | $31,660 | $2,638 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,570 | $18.54 | $33,171 | $2,764 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,050 buys in Gainesville, FL
Prices in Gainesville, FL are 3.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,343 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,367 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Gainesville, FL has 1.5× 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
Gainesville, FL ranks #44 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 |
| 44 | Gainesville, FL | $35,050 | $30,343 | $31,367 |
*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 Florida
- Wildwood, FL — $35,410
- Crestview, FL — $36,680
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,730
- Naples, FL — $38,190
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $37,000
- Ocala, FL — $34,560
- North Port, FL — $37,320
- Sebastian, FL — $35,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Gainesville, FL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $35,050 a year, or about $16.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,260 and $36,690.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Gainesville, FL?
On the median $35,050 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,343 a year ($2,529 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Gainesville, FL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,367 would in a typical U.S. city. Gainesville, FL ranks #44 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Gainesville, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Gainesville, FL is $1,193 a month ($1,427 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,040
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,400
- Bartender — $35,050
- Dishwasher — $29,490
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,970
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280