Food preparation workers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Food preparation workers in the United States earn a median salary of $35,320 per year — about $17 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 903K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core duties are highly physical and require manual dexterity in unpredictable kitchen environments, which are difficult for AI to automate directly. While AI might optimize inventory management or scheduling, the primary tasks of washing, cutting, and preparing food remain resistant to digital replacement, though some labor may be displaced by industrial food processing automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HIBEST VALUE | $46,680 | Above avg (107.2) | $43,548 |
| Yakima, WA | $41,750 | Average (97.9) | $42,645 |
| Minot, ND | $37,310 | Below avg (88.7) | $42,071 |
| Bismarck, ND | $37,270 | Below avg (89.4) | $41,710 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $35,650 | Below avg (85.9) | $41,497 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $37,710 | Below avg (91.9) | $41,054 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $36,590 | Below avg (89.1) | $41,050 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $40,030 | Average (97.9) | $40,878 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $35,780 | Below avg (87.9) | $40,711 |
| Greeley, CO | $39,150 | Below avg (96.6) | $40,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,580 | Above avg (113.1) | $40,315 |
| Yuma, AZ | $35,390 | Below avg (88.1) | $40,177 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $37,240 | Below avg (92.8) | $40,151 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | Below avg (89.5) | $39,900 |
| Grand Island, NE | $34,590 | Below avg (87.1) | $39,695 |