Food Preparation Worker Salary in Greeley, CO
Food Preparation Workers in the Greeley, CO metro area earn a median $39,150 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,623 take-home, or $2,719 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Greeley, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,518
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- Colorado income tax$1,014
- Take-home pay$32,623
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Greeley, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,110 | $15.44 | $27,276 | $2,273 |
| 25th percentile | $34,540 | $16.61 | $29,122 | $2,427 |
| Median (50th) | $39,150 | $18.82 | $32,623 | $2,719 |
| 75th percentile | $43,720 | $21.02 | $36,094 | $3,008 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,800 | $22.98 | $39,193 | $3,266 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,150 buys in Greeley, CO
Prices in Greeley, CO are 0.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,623 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,566 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 Greeley, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Greeley, CO ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Greeley, CO | $39,150 | $32,623 | $32,566 |
*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
- Boulder, CO — $39,690
- 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 Greeley, CO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Greeley, CO metro area is $39,150 a year, or about $18.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,540 and $43,720.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Greeley, CO?
On the median $39,150 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $32,623 a year ($2,719 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,014 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Greeley, CO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,566 would in a typical U.S. city. Greeley, CO ranks #19 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Greeley, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Greeley, CO is $1,238 a month ($1,563 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Greeley, CO
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,640
- Bartender — $37,680
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,900
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,030