Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Food preparation workers support the food service industry by performing hands-on tasks that help get meals ready for customers. This career employs about 903,000 people nationally, indicating a large workforce and a wide presence across the country. Despite a projected employment decline of -3.4%, there are still an estimated 148,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs as workers change jobs or leave the occupation. The national median annual salary is $34,220, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay. Top skills include physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, interpersonal skills, and customer service, as well as attention to detail and speaking and listening. The typical entry point does not require a formal educational credential, which can make this role accessible to people starting or restarting their careers. For those interested in related paths, options such as graders and sorters of agricultural products or laundry and dry-cleaning workers provide additional alternatives.
Food preparation workers earn a national median annual salary of $34,220, with pay varying by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports the highest median salary at $40,910, followed by Colorado at $38,960, California at $39,350, and Massachusetts at $38,900. New York’s median is $35,610, slightly above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $45,580, the highest among the listed areas. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA also offers a median of $41,000, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH has $39,660. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metros have median salaries of $35,670 and $37,630, respectively. These figures show that earnings can differ meaningfully by region, potentially influencing where workers choose to pursue opportunities.
Food preparation workers have national employment of about 903,000, indicating a substantial number of positions across the country. The occupation is projected to experience employment growth of -3.4%, signaling a decline in the overall number of jobs over the projection period. However, there are still an estimated 148,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that, even with a shrinking employment base, there is ongoing demand for new workers to fill roles opened by turnover and other workforce changes. All listed top states and metro areas share the same projected growth rate of -3.4%, so the overall directional trend is consistent across locations highlighted here. People considering this career can expect that opportunities will continue to exist, but the negative growth rate points to a competitive landscape where understanding local markets and employer needs may be important when evaluating long-term plans.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for food preparation workers. Among states with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, California leads with a score of 67.38, a median salary of $39,350, and large employment of 112,750. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $38,900 and $35,610, respectively. Colorado and Washington round out the top five, both offering median salaries near or above $39,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and the highest listed median salary at $45,580. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and the largest employment at 63,530. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH all offer mid-to-upper $30,000s to low $40,000s median salaries and solid opportunity scores, providing a range of strong regional options.
Food preparation workers typically enter the occupation with no formal educational credential, which can make this role accessible to individuals who have not completed traditional education programs. Despite the lack of a formal education requirement, the occupation still relies on a well-rounded skill set. Important abilities include physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills, which support hands-on, task-focused work. Interpersonal skills and customer service are also key, reflecting the importance of working effectively with others and interacting with customers. Being detail oriented and having strong speaking and listening skills help workers follow instructions and maintain consistency. Additional skills such as leadership, mechanical abilities, science, and project management can also be valuable within this career. Because entry is not tied to a specific degree or credential, building and demonstrating these skills can be an important way for workers to qualify for roles and potentially pursue advancement over time.
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