Food Preparation Worker Salary in Salem, OR
Food Preparation Workers in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $37,300 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,716 take-home, or $2,476 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Salem, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,296
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,313
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- Oregon income tax$2,434
- Take-home pay$29,716
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Salem, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 | $25,571 | $2,131 |
| 25th percentile | $34,520 | $16.60 | $27,726 | $2,310 |
| Median (50th) | $37,300 | $17.93 | $29,716 | $2,476 |
| 75th percentile | $42,870 | $20.61 | $33,705 | $2,809 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,590 | $23.36 | $37,800 | $3,150 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,300 buys in Salem, OR
Prices in Salem, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,716 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,670 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 Salem, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Salem, OR ranks #156 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 |
| 156 | Salem, OR | $37,300 | $29,716 | $28,670 |
*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 Oregon
- Bend, OR — $38,010
- Portland, OR — $38,730
- Eugene, OR — $36,160
- Medford, OR — $35,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Salem, OR?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Salem, OR metro area is $37,300 a year, or about $17.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,520 and $42,870.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Salem, OR?
On the median $37,300 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $29,716 a year ($2,476 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,434 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Salem, OR a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,670 would in a typical U.S. city. Salem, OR ranks #156 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salem, OR is $1,201 a month ($1,560 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,720
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,690
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Bartender — $38,410
- Dishwasher — $35,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,520