Food Preparation Worker Salary in Waco, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Waco, TX metro area earn a median $28,690 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,232 take-home, or $2,103 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Waco, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,263
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,779
- Medicare (1.45%)$416
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,232
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Waco, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,890 | $11.00 | $20,460 | $1,705 |
| 25th percentile | $27,250 | $13.10 | $24,050 | $2,004 |
| Median (50th) | $28,690 | $13.79 | $25,232 | $2,103 |
| 75th percentile | $34,370 | $16.52 | $29,796 | $2,483 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,960 | $18.25 | $32,681 | $2,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,690 buys in Waco, TX
Prices in Waco, TX are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,264 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waco, TX 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
Waco, TX ranks #206 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 |
| 206 | Waco, TX | $28,690 | $25,232 | $27,264 |
*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 Texas
- Wichita Falls, TX — $35,700
- College Station, TX — $34,380
- San Antonio, TX — $34,390
- Austin, TX — $34,880
- Houston, TX — $35,020
- Midland, TX — $33,200
- Killeen, TX — $30,300
- Odessa, TX — $30,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Waco, TX?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Waco, TX metro area is $28,690 a year, or about $13.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,250 and $34,370.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Waco, TX?
On the median $28,690 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $25,232 a year ($2,103 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Waco, TX a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,264 would in a typical U.S. city. Waco, TX ranks #206 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Waco, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waco, TX is $966 a month ($1,208 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Waco, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,240
- Cooks, Restaurant — $31,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,750
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,470
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,010
- Bartender — $21,420