Food Preparation Workers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,700 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Seattle earn between $38,120 and $49,190.
- $35K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $49K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,390 | $3,699 | $21.34 |
| Median | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,120 | $3,177 | $18.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,190 | $4,099 | $23.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Seattle earn 4% more than the Washington average ($42,660) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $44,390 | $43,830 | $35,410 | $54,700 | 11,060 |
| Washington | $42,660 | $40,910 | $34,890 | $51,730 | 19,510 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $44,390, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $37,847 a year, or $3,154 a month and $1,456 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $44,390 buys what about $39,943 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 16.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 11 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$44,390
- Bremerton$42,910
- Mount Vernon$41,420
- Bellingham$40,960
- Olympia$40,900
- Yakima$40,820
- Kennewick$39,990
- Walla Walla$39,820
- Longview$39,490
- Wenatchee$39,380
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 Seattle: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Seattle?
$21.34 an hour on average, and $21.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $37,847 a year ($3,154 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,390. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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