Food Preparation Workers pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,610 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Austin earn between $27,260 and $38,720.
- $27K10th
- $27K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $44K90th
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 | $34,880 | $2,907 | $16.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,260 | $2,272 | $13.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,720 | $3,227 | $18.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Austin earn 8% more than the Texas average ($32,120) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $34,550 | $34,880 | $26,940 | $43,610 | 9,350 |
| Texas | $32,120 | $30,650 | $22,790 | $42,450 | 81,280 |
| 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 Austin
On the average salary of $34,550, a single filer in Austin 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 Austin a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $34,550 buys what about $35,231 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 1st of 26 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Austin$34,550
- Midland$33,700
- Houston$33,220
- College Station$33,200
- Dallas$32,960
- San Antonio$32,900
- Wichita Falls$32,040
- Odessa$31,830
- Killeen$31,520
- Waco$30,440
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Austin: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Austin?
$16.61 an hour on average, and $16.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Austin?
About $29,941 a year ($2,495 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,550. Texas has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Austin 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.