Food Preparation Workers pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,050 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Appleton earn between $28,280 and $38,200.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $34KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,740 | $2,812 | $16.22 |
| Median | $34,060 | $2,838 | $16.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,280 | $2,357 | $13.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($34,000) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $33,740 | $34,060 | $23,990 | $45,050 | 650 |
| Wisconsin | $34,000 | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | 17,990 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $33,740, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $28,515 a year, or $2,376 a month and $1,097 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $33,740 buys what about $36,508 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 4th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($36,760).
- Madison$36,760
- Milwaukee$35,080
- Kenosha$34,480
- Appleton$33,740
- La Crosse$33,540
- Oshkosh$33,500
- Sheboygan$33,280
- Eau Claire$33,190
- Janesville$32,770
- Wausau$32,570
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 Appleton: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Appleton?
$16.22 an hour on average, and $16.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Appleton?
About $28,515 a year ($2,376 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,740.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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