Salaries › Food Prep Worker › California
Food Prep Worker Salary in California (2026)
$18.92 per hour · take-home ≈ $33,081/year ($2,757/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,190 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,010 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $39,350 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $44,540 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $48,470 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 112,750 Food Prep Worker jobs in California (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $39,350 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $33,081 — an effective tax rate of 15.9%.
| Gross (median) | $39,350 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,542 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,010 |
| California state income tax | −$716 |
| Take-home (annual) | $33,081 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,757 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in California?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in California is $39,350 per year ($18.92 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,010 and $44,540.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in California?
- On the median salary of $39,350, a single filer in California takes home about $33,081 per year ($2,757 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.9%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 112,750 Food Prep Worker jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.