Food Preparation Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $35,020 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,319 take-home, or $2,527 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,022
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,171
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,319
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,250 | $11.18 | $20,756 | $1,730 |
| 25th percentile | $28,110 | $13.51 | $24,759 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $35,020 | $16.84 | $30,319 | $2,527 |
| 75th percentile | $37,790 | $18.17 | $32,544 | $2,712 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,870 | $20.13 | $35,823 | $2,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,020 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,319 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,740 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #17 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $35,020 | $30,319 | $30,740 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $34,390
- Austin, TX — $34,880
- Dallas, TX — $30,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Houston, TX?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $35,020 a year, or about $16.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,110 and $37,790.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $35,020 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $30,319 a year ($2,527 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,740 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #17 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $45,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,660
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,050
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,090
- Bartender — $22,770
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,080
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,850