Food Preparation Worker Salary in Oxnard, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area earn a median $37,680 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,470 take-home, or $2,622 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Oxnard, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,336
- Medicare (1.45%)$546
- California income tax$497
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$490
- Take-home pay$31,470
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Oxnard, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,660 | $16.66 | $29,203 | $2,434 |
| 25th percentile | $35,740 | $17.18 | $30,014 | $2,501 |
| Median (50th) | $37,680 | $18.12 | $31,470 | $2,622 |
| 75th percentile | $43,440 | $20.88 | $35,792 | $2,983 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,980 | $24.51 | $41,371 | $3,448 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,680 buys in Oxnard, CA
Prices in Oxnard, CA are 10.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.71× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,470 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,470 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 Oxnard, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Oxnard, CA ranks #161 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 |
| 161 | Oxnard, CA | $37,680 | $31,470 | $28,470 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $45,580
- Merced, CA — $38,980
- Santa Rosa, CA — $42,640
- Napa, CA — $42,810
- Visalia, CA — $37,020
- Chico, CA — $37,510
- Fresno, CA — $37,730
- Modesto, CA — $38,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Oxnard, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area is $37,680 a year, or about $18.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,740 and $43,440.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Oxnard, CA?
On the median $37,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,470 a year ($2,622 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $986 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Oxnard, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,470 would in a typical U.S. city. Oxnard, CA ranks #161 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Oxnard, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oxnard, CA is $2,250 a month ($2,693 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Oxnard, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,070
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,570
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,060
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,480
- Dishwasher — $36,670
- Bartender — $35,590
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,370
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910