Food Preparation Workers pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,550 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in San Jose earn between $39,960 and $47,890.
- $37K10th
- $40K25th
- $46KMedian
- $48K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,660 | $3,805 | $21.95 |
| Median | $45,580 | $3,798 | $21.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,960 | $3,330 | $19.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,890 | $3,991 | $23.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in San Jose earn 10% more than the California average ($41,480) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $45,660 | $45,580 | $37,340 | $55,550 | 5,930 |
| California | $41,480 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $45,660, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $37,906 a year, or $3,159 a month and $1,458 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $45,660 buys what about $41,350 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 35.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$45,660
- Napa$44,240
- Santa Rosa$43,450
- San Francisco$43,290
- Santa Cruz$42,060
- Vallejo$41,390
- San Luis Obispo$41,340
- Los Angeles$41,220
- Salinas$41,130
- San Diego$40,890
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in San Jose: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in San Jose?
$21.95 an hour on average, and $21.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in San Jose?
About $37,906 a year ($3,159 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,660. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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