Food Preparation Worker Salary in Sioux Falls, SD
Food Preparation Workers in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median $30,360 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,574 take-home, or $2,215 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Sioux Falls, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,463
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$440
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,574
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro spans South Dakota, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Sioux Falls, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,370 | $13.16 | $24,149 | $2,012 |
| 25th percentile | $28,770 | $13.83 | $25,297 | $2,108 |
| Median (50th) | $30,360 | $14.60 | $26,574 | $2,215 |
| 75th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 | $29,129 | $2,427 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,020 | $18.76 | $33,533 | $2,794 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,360 buys in Sioux Falls, SD
Prices in Sioux Falls, SD are 9.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,574 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,321 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 Sioux Falls, SD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Sioux Falls, SD ranks #130 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 |
| 130 | Sioux Falls, SD | $30,360 | $26,574 | $29,321 |
*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 South Dakota
- Rapid City, SD — $30,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Sioux Falls, SD?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $30,360 a year, or about $14.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,770 and $33,540.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Sioux Falls, SD?
On the median $30,360 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $26,574 a year ($2,215 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Sioux Falls, SD a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,321 would in a typical U.S. city. Sioux Falls, SD ranks #130 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Sioux Falls, SD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sioux Falls, SD is $978 a month ($1,150 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,420
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,310
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,240
- Cooks, Short Order — $35,570
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,970
- Bartender — $30,180
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,150
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,830