Food Preparation Worker Salary in Santa Rosa, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn a median $42,640 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,192 take-home, or $2,933 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Santa Rosa, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,937
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,644
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- California income tax$695
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$554
- Take-home pay$35,192
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Santa Rosa, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,060 | $17.34 | $30,254 | $2,521 |
| 25th percentile | $37,960 | $18.25 | $31,680 | $2,640 |
| Median (50th) | $42,640 | $20.50 | $35,192 | $2,933 |
| 75th percentile | $46,080 | $22.15 | $37,774 | $3,148 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,530 | $24.77 | $41,773 | $3,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,640 buys in Santa Rosa, CA
Prices in Santa Rosa, CA are 7.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.40× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $35,192 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,650 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 Santa Rosa, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Rosa, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 | $35,192 | $32,650 |
*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
- Napa, CA — $42,810
- Visalia, CA — $37,020
- Chico, CA — $37,510
- Fresno, CA — $37,730
- Modesto, CA — $38,450
- Bakersfield, CA — $37,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Santa Rosa, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $42,640 a year, or about $20.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,960 and $46,080.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Santa Rosa, CA?
On the median $42,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,192 a year ($2,933 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,249 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Rosa, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,650 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Rosa, CA ranks #15 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Rosa, CA is $2,155 a month ($2,827 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Rosa, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $73,570
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,380
- Cooks, Short Order — $46,450
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,720
- Cooks, Fast Food — $43,840
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,610
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,180
- Dishwasher — $38,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $37,720
- Bartender — $37,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,830
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,750