Food Preparation Worker Salary in Kennewick, WA
Food Preparation Workers in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area earn a median $38,390 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,026 take-home, or $2,752 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Kennewick, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,427
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,380
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,026
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Kennewick, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,240 | $16.94 | $30,495 | $2,541 |
| 25th percentile | $35,910 | $17.26 | $31,034 | $2,586 |
| Median (50th) | $38,390 | $18.46 | $33,026 | $2,752 |
| 75th percentile | $41,710 | $20.05 | $35,694 | $2,974 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,710 | $22.94 | $40,515 | $3,376 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,390 buys in Kennewick, WA
Prices in Kennewick, WA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $33,026 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,000 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 Kennewick, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Kennewick, WA ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Kennewick, WA | $38,390 | $33,026 | $33,000 |
*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 Washington
- Yakima, WA — $41,750
- Seattle, WA — $43,830
- Bremerton, WA — $39,400
- Bellingham, WA — $38,240
- Olympia, WA — $37,950
- Spokane, WA — $36,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Kennewick, WA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area is $38,390 a year, or about $18.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,910 and $41,710.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Kennewick, WA?
On the median $38,390 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $33,026 a year ($2,752 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Kennewick, WA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,000 would in a typical U.S. city. Kennewick, WA ranks #13 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Kennewick, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kennewick, WA is $1,268 a month ($1,538 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 Kennewick, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $56,260
- Bartender — $55,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $51,460
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,280
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,410