Food Preparation Worker Salary in Spokane, WA
Food Preparation Workers in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn a median $36,360 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,395 take-home, or $2,616 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Spokane, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,183
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,254
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,395
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Spokane, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,650 | $16.66 | $30,021 | $2,502 |
| 25th percentile | $34,780 | $16.72 | $30,126 | $2,510 |
| Median (50th) | $36,360 | $17.48 | $31,395 | $2,616 |
| 75th percentile | $40,820 | $19.63 | $34,979 | $2,915 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,870 | $22.05 | $39,037 | $3,253 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,360 buys in Spokane, WA
Prices in Spokane, WA are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,395 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,287 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 Spokane, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Spokane, WA ranks #46 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 |
| 46 | Spokane, WA | $36,360 | $31,395 | $31,287 |
*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 Washington
- Yakima, WA — $41,750
- Seattle, WA — $43,830
- Kennewick, WA — $38,390
- Bremerton, WA — $39,400
- Bellingham, WA — $38,240
- Olympia, WA — $37,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Spokane, WA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area is $36,360 a year, or about $17.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,780 and $40,820.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Spokane, WA?
On the median $36,360 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $31,395 a year ($2,616 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Spokane, WA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,287 would in a typical U.S. city. Spokane, WA ranks #46 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Spokane, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Spokane, WA is $1,168 a month ($1,499 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Spokane, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,770
- Bartender — $50,210
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,560
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,330
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,230
- Dishwasher — $36,330
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,730