Food Preparation Worker Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Food Preparation Workers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $33,370 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,457 take-home, or $2,371 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,824
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,069
- Medicare (1.45%)$484
- Utah income tax$536
- Take-home pay$28,457
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,240 | $13.10 | $23,782 | $1,982 |
| 25th percentile | $30,630 | $14.73 | $26,379 | $2,198 |
| Median (50th) | $33,370 | $16.04 | $28,457 | $2,371 |
| 75th percentile | $38,260 | $18.39 | $32,166 | $2,681 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,620 | $20.97 | $36,232 | $3,019 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,370 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,457 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,212 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 Salt Lake City, UT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #44 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 |
| 44 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,370 | $28,457 | $28,212 |
*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 Salt Lake City, UT?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $33,370 a year, or about $16.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,630 and $38,260.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $33,370 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $28,457 a year ($2,371 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $536 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,212 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #44 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,700
- Waiter and Waitress — $32,320
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,070