Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Colorado
Food Prep Worker Salary in Colorado (2026)
$18.73 per hour · take-home ≈ $32,479/year ($2,707/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Colorado
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,800 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,690 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $38,960 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $44,740 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $49,000 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 12,080 Food Prep Worker jobs in Colorado (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Colorado
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $38,960 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Colorado state income tax, a single filer keeps about $32,479 — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
| Gross (median) | $38,960 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,495 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,980 |
| Colorado state income tax | −$1,006 |
| Take-home (annual) | $32,479 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,707 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Colorado paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Colorado?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Colorado is $38,960 per year ($18.73 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,690 and $44,740.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Colorado?
- On the median salary of $38,960, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $32,479 per year ($2,707 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Colorado?
- BLS counts 12,080 Food Prep Worker jobs in Colorado in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
Other salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado 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 Colorado.