Food Preparation Worker Salary in Youngstown, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area earn a median $30,310 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,483 take-home, or $2,207 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Youngstown, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,457
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Ohio income tax$51
- Take-home pay$26,483
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Youngstown, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,560 | $11.81 | $21,835 | $1,820 |
| 25th percentile | $26,810 | $12.89 | $23,688 | $1,974 |
| Median (50th) | $30,310 | $14.57 | $26,483 | $2,207 |
| 75th percentile | $36,500 | $17.55 | $31,286 | $2,607 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,550 | $18.53 | $32,877 | $2,740 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,310 buys in Youngstown, OH
Prices in Youngstown, OH are 12.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 47% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,483 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,303 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 Youngstown, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Youngstown, OH ranks #89 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 |
| 89 | Youngstown, OH | $30,310 | $26,483 | $30,303 |
*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 Ohio
- Toledo, OH — $35,260
- Columbus, OH — $36,930
- Cleveland, OH — $35,360
- Akron, OH — $35,010
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,320
- Dayton, OH — $33,110
- Canton, OH — $31,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Youngstown, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area is $30,310 a year, or about $14.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,810 and $36,500.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Youngstown, OH?
On the median $30,310 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $26,483 a year ($2,207 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $51 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Youngstown, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 12.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,303 would in a typical U.S. city. Youngstown, OH ranks #89 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Youngstown, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Youngstown, OH is $771 a month ($973 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Youngstown, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,360
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,510
- Waiter and Waitress — $33,910
- Cooks, Restaurant — $32,150
- Bartender — $29,520
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,300
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $27,890
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,950
- Dishwasher — $26,510