Food Preparation Worker Salary in Killeen, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area earn a median $30,300 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,526 take-home, or $2,211 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Killeen, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,456
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,526
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Killeen, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,010 | $10.58 | $19,735 | $1,645 |
| 25th percentile | $26,270 | $12.63 | $23,243 | $1,937 |
| Median (50th) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $26,526 | $2,211 |
| 75th percentile | $37,080 | $17.83 | $31,974 | $2,664 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,700 | $18.61 | $33,275 | $2,773 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,300 buys in Killeen, TX
Prices in Killeen, TX are 8.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,526 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,107 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 Killeen, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Killeen, TX ranks #141 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 |
| 141 | Killeen, TX | $30,300 | $26,526 | $29,107 |
*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 Texas
- Wichita Falls, TX — $35,700
- College Station, TX — $34,380
- San Antonio, TX — $34,390
- Austin, TX — $34,880
- Houston, TX — $35,020
- Midland, TX — $33,200
- Odessa, TX — $30,550
- Laredo, TX — $27,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Killeen, TX?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area is $30,300 a year, or about $14.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,270 and $37,080.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Killeen, TX?
On the median $30,300 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $26,526 a year ($2,211 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Killeen, TX a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,107 would in a typical U.S. city. Killeen, TX ranks #141 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Killeen, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Killeen, TX is $982 a month ($1,225 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Killeen, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,510
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,020
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,530
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,910
- Bartender — $21,280
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $19,990