Food Preparation Worker Salary in Sacramento, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $38,480 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,070 take-home, or $2,672 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,386
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- California income tax$529
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$500
- Take-home pay$32,070
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,860 | $16.76 | $29,353 | $2,446 |
| 25th percentile | $35,880 | $17.25 | $30,119 | $2,510 |
| Median (50th) | $38,480 | $18.50 | $32,070 | $2,672 |
| 75th percentile | $43,950 | $21.13 | $36,175 | $3,015 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,980 | $23.55 | $39,910 | $3,326 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,480 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,065 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $38,480 | $32,070 | $30,065 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $45,580
- Riverside, CA — $38,420
- San Francisco, CA — $41,000
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
- San Diego, CA — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Sacramento, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $38,480 a year, or about $18.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,880 and $43,950.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $38,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,070 a year ($2,672 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,029 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,065 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #23 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,840
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,860
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,210
- Dishwasher — $36,930
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,110
- Bartender — $35,510
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,070