Food Preparation Workers pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,960 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Waco earn between $27,250 and $34,370.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,440 | $2,537 | $14.63 |
| Median | $28,690 | $2,391 | $13.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,250 | $2,271 | $13.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,370 | $2,864 | $16.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Waco earn 5% less than the Texas average ($32,120) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $30,440 | $28,690 | $22,890 | $37,960 | 940 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $30,440, a single filer in Waco takes home about $26,639 a year, or $2,220 a month and $1,025 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Waco a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $30,440 buys what about $32,890 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 10th of 26 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($34,550).
- 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 Waco: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Waco?
$14.64 an hour on average, and $13.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Waco?
About $26,639 a year ($2,220 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,440. Texas has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Waco, TX (47380). 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 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.