Food Preparation Workers pay range in Dover
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,660 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Dover earn between $31,800 and $37,950.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,510 | $2,959 | $17.07 |
| Median | $34,560 | $2,880 | $16.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,800 | $2,650 | $15.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,950 | $3,162 | $18.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Dover vs. Delaware and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Dover earn about the same as the Delaware average ($36,360) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $35,510 | $34,560 | $31,200 | $39,660 | 300 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $35,930 | $31,200 | $43,070 | 2,400 |
| 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 Dover
On the average salary of $35,510, a single filer in Dover takes home about $29,308 a year, or $2,442 a month and $1,127 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).
Is Dover a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dover area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.5), so the average $35,510 buys what about $36,418 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Dover ($46,690). A typical home costs $372,156, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in nearby metro areas
- Vineland, NJ$36,490
- Atlantic City, NJ$37,770
- Philadelphia, PA$34,950
- Baltimore, MD$36,910
- Salisbury, MD$33,710
- Lancaster, PA$32,240
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 Dover: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Dover?
$17.07 an hour on average, and $16.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Dover?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Dover?
About $29,308 a year ($2,442 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,510.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Dover than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Dover, DE (20100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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