Food Preparation Worker Salary in Louisville, KY
Food Preparation Workers in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $29,640 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,076 take-home, or $2,090 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,377
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,838
- Medicare (1.45%)$430
- Kentucky income tax$920
- Take-home pay$25,076
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,250 | $10.22 | $18,483 | $1,540 |
| 25th percentile | $26,540 | $12.76 | $22,654 | $1,888 |
| Median (50th) | $29,640 | $14.25 | $25,076 | $2,090 |
| 75th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 | $30,325 | $2,527 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,980 | $19.22 | $33,022 | $2,752 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,640 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,076 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,942 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Louisville, KY has 1.3× 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
Louisville, KY ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | Louisville, KY | $29,640 | $25,076 | $26,942 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Louisville, KY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $29,640 a year, or about $14.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,540 and $36,470.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $29,640 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $25,076 a year ($2,090 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $920 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,942 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #55 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,800
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,950
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,180
- Bartender — $29,120
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,690
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,990