Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lincoln, NE
Food Preparation Workers in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median $35,210 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,749 take-home, or $2,479 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Lincoln, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,045
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,183
- Medicare (1.45%)$511
- Nebraska income tax$723
- Take-home pay$29,749
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Lincoln, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,100 | $13.99 | $25,070 | $2,089 |
| 25th percentile | $32,840 | $15.79 | $27,944 | $2,329 |
| Median (50th) | $35,210 | $16.93 | $29,749 | $2,479 |
| 75th percentile | $36,970 | $17.77 | $31,083 | $2,590 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,510 | $19.48 | $33,766 | $2,814 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,210 buys in Lincoln, NE
Prices in Lincoln, NE are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,749 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,484 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lincoln, NE has 1.2× 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
Lincoln, NE ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $35,210 | $29,749 | $32,484 |
*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 Nebraska
- Omaha, NE — $36,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Lincoln, NE?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $35,210 a year, or about $16.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,840 and $36,970.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Lincoln, NE?
On the median $35,210 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $29,749 a year ($2,479 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $723 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Lincoln, NE a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,484 would in a typical U.S. city. Lincoln, NE ranks #20 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Lincoln, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lincoln, NE is $917 a month ($1,132 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lincoln, NE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,290
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,830
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Bartender — $30,660
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,480
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,510
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,150