Food Preparation Worker Salary in Portland, OR
Food Preparation Workers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $38,730 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,740 take-home, or $2,562 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,468
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,401
- Medicare (1.45%)$562
- Oregon income tax$2,559
- Take-home pay$30,740
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,070 | $16.86 | $28,120 | $2,343 |
| 25th percentile | $36,800 | $17.69 | $29,358 | $2,447 |
| Median (50th) | $38,730 | $18.62 | $30,740 | $2,562 |
| 75th percentile | $45,120 | $21.69 | $35,316 | $2,943 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,280 | $24.17 | $39,010 | $3,251 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,730 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,740 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,160 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #37 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 |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $38,730 | $30,740 | $29,160 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $38,730 a year, or about $18.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,800 and $45,120.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $38,730 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $30,740 a year ($2,562 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,559 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,160 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #37 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $54,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,800
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
- Dishwasher — $37,250
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,620