Food Preparation Workers pay in California
$41,480avg. a year
$19.94 an hour · 112,750 employed
Food Preparation Workers in California earn an average of $41,480 a year. That is $6,190 (18%) more than the U.S. average of $35,290. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $45,660.
$39,350Median pay
$19.94Average hourly
+31%Avg. pay since 2020
#3Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for food preparation workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 25.
15,930 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$45,660
$21.95 an hour
2620 jobs
Napa, CA
$44,240
$21.27 an hour
31,410 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$43,450
$20.89 an hour
414,470 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$43,290
$20.81 an hour
5830 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$42,060
$20.22 an hour
6930 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$41,390
$19.90 an hour
7900 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$41,340
$19.88 an hour
844,930 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$41,220
$19.82 an hour
91,180 jobs
Salinas, CA
$41,130
$19.77 an hour
109,360 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$40,890
$19.66 an hour
111,490 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$40,830
$19.63 an hour
12260 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$40,800
$19.62 an hour
13320 jobs
El Centro, CA
$40,610
$19.52 an hour
145,510 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$40,600
$19.52 an hour
151,470 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$40,500
$19.47 an hour
1611,190 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$40,490
$19.47 an hour
172,090 jobs
Fresno, CA
$40,450
$19.45 an hour
181,170 jobs
Modesto, CA
$40,410
$19.43 an hour
191,910 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$40,340
$19.40 an hour
20460 jobs
Merced, CA
$40,150
$19.30 an hour
21320 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$39,630
$19.05 an hour
22760 jobs
Visalia, CA
$39,420
$18.95 an hour
23480 jobs
Chico, CA
$39,010
$18.76 an hour
241,950 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$38,700
$18.61 an hour
25420 jobs
Redding, CA
$38,290
$18.41 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Food Preparation Workers pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California food preparation workers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $32k$32k–$35k$35k–$38k$38k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,290 | $16.96 |
| California | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Oregon | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| Arizona | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Nevada | $36,290 | $17.45 |
Related jobs in California
- Cooks, Restaurant$45,020
- Cooks, Fast Food$41,490
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$47,900
- Cooks, Short Order$42,260
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$41,680
- Waiters and Waitresses$44,600
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do food preparation workers make in California?
The average is $41,480 a year, and the median is $39,350. That is $6,190 (18%) more than the U.S. average of $35,290.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$19.94 an hour on average; the median is $18.92.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,660), followed by Napa, CA ($44,240). The lowest average among 25 metro areas with data is Redding, CA ($38,290).
How does California rank?
California ranks #3 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national food preparation workers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.