Food Preparation Worker Salary in Tulsa, OK
Food Preparation Workers in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $30,370 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,761 take-home, or $2,147 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,464
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,883
- Medicare (1.45%)$440
- Oklahoma income tax$821
- Take-home pay$25,761
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,820 | $10.49 | $19,142 | $1,595 |
| 25th percentile | $26,830 | $12.90 | $23,043 | $1,920 |
| Median (50th) | $30,370 | $14.60 | $25,761 | $2,147 |
| 75th percentile | $35,740 | $17.18 | $29,834 | $2,486 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,680 | $17.63 | $30,547 | $2,546 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,370 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,761 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,876 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 less concentrated in Tulsa, OK than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tulsa, OK ranks #150 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 |
| 150 | Tulsa, OK | $30,370 | $25,761 | $28,876 |
*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 Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $30,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Tulsa, OK?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $30,370 a year, or about $14.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,830 and $35,740.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $30,370 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $25,761 a year ($2,147 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $821 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, OK a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,876 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #150 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 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 Tulsa, OK
- Chef and Head Cook — $54,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,430
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,700
- Bartender — $27,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $24,960
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,350