Food Preparation Worker Salary in Oshkosh, WI
Food Preparation Workers in the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metro area earn a median $32,340 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,523 take-home, or $2,294 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Oshkosh, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,701
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$469
- Wisconsin income tax$642
- Take-home pay$27,523
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Oshkosh, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,330 | $12.18 | $22,096 | $1,841 |
| 25th percentile | $28,420 | $13.66 | $24,532 | $2,044 |
| Median (50th) | $32,340 | $15.55 | $27,523 | $2,294 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 | $31,298 | $2,608 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,840 | $21.56 | $37,017 | $3,085 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,340 buys in Oshkosh, WI
Prices in Oshkosh, WI are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,523 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,618 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 Oshkosh, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Oshkosh, WI ranks #120 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 |
| 120 | Oshkosh, WI | $32,340 | $27,523 | $29,618 |
*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 Wisconsin
- La Crosse, WI — $34,900
- Madison, WI — $36,940
- Appleton, WI — $34,060
- Milwaukee, WI — $35,470
- Eau Claire, WI — $33,680
- Green Bay, WI — $32,720
- Janesville, WI — $32,150
- Wausau, WI — $31,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Oshkosh, WI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metro area is $32,340 a year, or about $15.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,420 and $37,310.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Oshkosh, WI?
On the median $32,340 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $27,523 a year ($2,294 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $642 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Oshkosh, WI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,618 would in a typical U.S. city. Oshkosh, WI ranks #120 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Oshkosh, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oshkosh, WI is $889 a month ($1,149 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Oshkosh, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,850
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,840
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,610
- Bartender — $23,120