Food Preparation Workers pay range in Reno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,420 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Reno earn between $28,870 and $38,730.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $32KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,550 | $2,879 | $16.61 |
| Median | $32,180 | $2,682 | $15.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,870 | $2,406 | $13.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,730 | $3,228 | $18.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Reno vs. Nevada and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Reno earn 5% less than the Nevada average ($36,290) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $34,550 | $32,180 | $25,790 | $45,420 | 1,490 |
| Nevada | $36,290 | $33,460 | $26,140 | $50,600 | 11,420 |
| 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 Reno
On the average salary of $34,550, a single filer in Reno takes home about $29,941 a year, or $2,495 a month and $1,152 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Reno a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reno area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $34,550 buys what about $34,203 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Reno ($49,660). A typical home costs $570,546, or 16.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Nevada cities
Reno ranks 3rd of 3 Nevada metro areas for this job; Las Vegas pays the most ($36,690).
- Las Vegas$36,690
- Carson City$36,420
- Reno$34,550
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 Reno: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Reno?
$16.61 an hour on average, and $15.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Reno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Reno?
About $29,941 a year ($2,495 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,550. Nevada has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Reno 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 Reno, NV (39900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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