Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. George, UT
Food Preparation Workers in the St. George, UT metro area earn a median $34,800 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,542 take-home, or $2,462 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in St. George, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,996
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,158
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- Utah income tax$600
- Take-home pay$29,542
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in St. George, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,100 | $12.55 | $22,895 | $1,908 |
| 25th percentile | $29,350 | $14.11 | $25,408 | $2,117 |
| Median (50th) | $34,800 | $16.73 | $29,542 | $2,462 |
| 75th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 | $31,855 | $2,655 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,960 | $22.10 | $38,007 | $3,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,800 buys in St. George, UT
Prices in St. George, UT are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,542 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,355 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. George, UT has 1.3× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
St. George, UT ranks #86 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 |
| 86 | St. George, UT | $34,800 | $29,542 | $30,355 |
*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 Utah
- Provo, UT — $34,420
- Ogden, UT — $34,430
- Salt Lake City, UT — $33,370
- Logan, UT — $30,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in St. George, UT?
The median food preparation worker salary in the St. George, UT metro area is $34,800 a year, or about $16.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,350 and $37,850.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in St. George, UT?
On the median $34,800 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $29,542 a year ($2,462 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $600 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is St. George, UT a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,355 would in a typical U.S. city. St. George, UT ranks #86 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in St. George, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. George, UT is $1,218 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. George, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,690
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,590
- Cooks, Fast Food — $31,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,260
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,270