SOC 35-9099 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
U.S. median annual wage$35,840
U.S. median hourly wage$17.23
U.S. employment84,630
Nationally, food preparation and serving related workers, all other earned a median of $35,840 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 84,630 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $46,170 | $22.20 | Not published | Not published |
| Hawaii | $43,540 | $20.93 | 410 | 0.7 |
| Oregon | $39,080 | $18.79 | 600 | 0.3 |
| Illinois | $38,880 | $18.69 | 2,720 | 0.4 |
| District of Columbia | $38,580 | $18.55 | 40 | 0.1 |
| New Hampshire | $38,210 | $18.37 | 370 | 0.5 |
| Indiana | $38,160 | $18.35 | Not published | Not published |
| Arizona | $37,600 | $18.08 | 1,060 | 0.3 |
| Maryland | $37,500 | $18.03 | 3,540 | 1.3 |
| Utah | $37,180 | $17.87 | 290 | 0.2 |
| California | $36,910 | $17.75 | 30,730 | 1.7 |
| Tennessee | $36,640 | $17.61 | 2,670 | 0.8 |
| Connecticut | $36,320 | $17.46 | 1,060 | 0.6 |
| New Jersey | $36,290 | $17.45 | 3,780 | 0.9 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | $17.43 | 130 | 0.1 |
| Virginia | $35,870 | $17.25 | 1,390 | 0.3 |
| Colorado | $35,710 | $17.17 | 2,970 | 1.0 |
| Massachusetts | $35,300 | $16.97 | Not published | Not published |
| Michigan | $35,100 | $16.88 | 530 | 0.1 |
| Washington | $34,650 | $16.66 | Not published | Not published |
| New York | $34,340 | $16.51 | 380 | 0.0 |
| Florida | $34,200 | $16.44 | 3,900 | 0.4 |
| Delaware | $33,840 | $16.27 | Not published | Not published |
| Iowa | $33,480 | $16.10 | 310 | 0.2 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,040 | $15.89 | 730 | 0.1 |
| Vermont | $32,420 | $15.59 | 120 | 0.4 |
| Wyoming | $31,840 | $15.31 | 80 | 0.3 |
| Arkansas | $31,660 | $15.22 | 430 | 0.3 |
| Nevada | $31,510 | $15.15 | 1,140 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $31,240 | $15.02 | 490 | 0.2 |
| Oklahoma | $31,200 | $15.00 | 140 | 0.1 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $15.00 | Not published | Not published |
| Mississippi | $30,600 | $14.71 | 810 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $30,210 | $14.52 | 4,030 | 0.3 |
| North Carolina | $30,160 | $14.50 | 4,670 | 0.9 |
| Montana | $29,720 | $14.29 | 470 | 0.9 |
| Missouri | $28,600 | $13.75 | Not published | Not published |
| Ohio | $27,540 | $13.24 | 3,260 | 0.6 |
| Virgin Islands | $27,300 | $13.13 | 60 | 1.8 |
| Georgia | $25,740 | $12.38 | 3,130 | 0.6 |
| North Dakota | $23,410 | $11.25 | Not published | Not published |
| Alabama | $22,990 | $11.05 | Not published | Not published |
| Puerto Rico | $22,620 | $10.88 | 100 | 0.1 |
| South Carolina | $22,230 | $10.69 | 850 | 0.4 |
| Louisiana | $21,820 | $10.49 | 3,670 | 1.9 |
| West Virginia | $21,640 | $10.40 | 70 | 0.1 |
| Guam | $21,600 | $10.39 | 270 | 4.0 |
Pay by metro area
All 171 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
| Metro area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | $49,900 | $23.99 | 40 | 0.2 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,400 | $23.75 | 40 | 0.5 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48,070 | $23.11 | Not published | Not published |
| Bend, OR | $45,810 | $22.02 | 30 | 0.3 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,720 | $21.50 | 1,430 | 1.3 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $43,350 | $20.84 | 360 | 1.5 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $43,330 | $20.83 | 110 | 0.6 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,970 | $20.18 | 2,740 | 1.2 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $41,180 | $19.80 | 400 | 2.4 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $40,370 | $19.41 | 550 | 0.5 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,930 | $19.20 | 2,300 | 0.5 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $39,670 | $19.07 | 50 | 0.7 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $39,570 | $19.03 | 110 | 0.1 |
| Boulder, CO | $39,270 | $18.88 | Not published | Not published |
| Napa, CA | $39,080 | $18.79 | 320 | 4.0 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,910 | $18.71 | 390 | 1.9 |
| Redding, CA | $38,770 | $18.64 | 100 | 1.5 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $38,590 | $18.55 | 1,680 | 0.5 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,530 | $18.52 | 460 | 0.7 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,430 | $18.47 | Not published | Not published |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $38,210 | $18.37 | 430 | 0.2 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $38,200 | $18.36 | 690 | 0.3 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,160 | $18.35 | Not published | Not published |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $38,140 | $18.34 | 80 | 0.5 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $37,980 | $18.26 | 320 | 0.2 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,760 | $18.15 | 550 | 1.1 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $37,430 | $18.00 | 30 | 0.6 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $37,410 | $17.99 | 360 | 1.4 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,390 | $17.98 | 1,980 | 1.5 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,330 | $17.95 | 130 | 0.9 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $37,290 | $17.93 | 70 | 0.6 |
| Vineland, NJ | $37,230 | $17.90 | 110 | 1.8 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,040 | $17.81 | Not published | Not published |
| Albuquerque, NM | $36,890 | $17.74 | 70 | 0.2 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,810 | $17.70 | 14,270 | 2.3 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,780 | $17.68 | 270 | 0.4 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $36,660 | $17.63 | Not published | Not published |
| New Haven, CT | $36,640 | $17.62 | 160 | 0.6 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $36,450 | $17.53 | 260 | 0.6 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,440 | $17.52 | 330 | 1.8 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $36,360 | $17.48 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,360 | $17.48 | 290 | 1.5 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,350 | $17.47 | 1,010 | 0.9 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,330 | $17.47 | 3,340 | 2.2 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $36,230 | $17.42 | 30 | 0.5 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,190 | $17.40 | 50 | 0.7 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,120 | $17.36 | 240 | 2.0 |
| Tucson, AZ | $36,090 | $17.35 | 180 | 0.5 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,020 | $17.32 | Not published | Not published |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,970 | $17.29 | 530 | 1.2 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $35,820 | $17.22 | Not published | Not published |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $35,770 | $17.20 | 1,710 | 1.1 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,760 | $17.19 | 190 | 1.0 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $35,710 | $17.17 | 290 | 0.9 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $35,710 | $17.17 | 70 | 0.9 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $35,710 | $17.17 | 230 | 0.5 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $35,690 | $17.16 | 230 | 0.8 |
| Greeley, CO | $35,640 | $17.13 | 80 | 0.7 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,500 | $17.07 | 80 | 0.5 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $35,490 | $17.06 | 390 | 1.2 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,350 | $16.99 | 160 | 1.0 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,280 | $16.96 | 90 | 0.8 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $35,260 | $16.95 | 3,180 | 1.9 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,220 | $16.93 | 550 | 0.4 |
| Yuba City, CA | $35,150 | $16.90 | 40 | 0.8 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,140 | $16.90 | 60 | 0.4 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $35,100 | $16.88 | 280 | 0.1 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,060 | $16.86 | 2,770 | 0.3 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $35,050 | $16.85 | 170 | 1.0 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $34,990 | $16.82 | 900 | 0.8 |
| Chico, CA | $34,950 | $16.80 | 130 | 1.7 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,930 | $16.79 | Not published | Not published |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $34,840 | $16.75 | 410 | 0.7 |
| Merced, CA | $34,720 | $16.69 | 60 | 0.8 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $34,650 | $16.66 | Not published | Not published |
| Ogden, UT | $34,630 | $16.65 | 50 | 0.2 |
| Pueblo, CO | $34,570 | $16.62 | 50 | 0.9 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,560 | $16.61 | 340 | 1.0 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,480 | $16.58 | 250 | 0.7 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $34,320 | $16.50 | 50 | 1.4 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $34,290 | $16.49 | 40 | 0.1 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,190 | $16.44 | 930 | 0.3 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $34,140 | $16.41 | 70 | 0.1 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $34,100 | $16.40 | Not published | Not published |
| Richmond, VA | $33,980 | $16.34 | 210 | 0.3 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $33,890 | $16.29 | 60 | 0.1 |
| St. George, UT | $33,810 | $16.26 | 40 | 0.4 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $33,660 | $16.18 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,540 | $16.12 | 120 | 0.4 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $33,430 | $16.07 | 370 | 2.3 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,170 | $15.95 | 50 | 0.4 |
| Reno, NV | $33,050 | $15.89 | 160 | 0.6 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $33,040 | $15.89 | 70 | 0.8 |
| Springfield, MO | $32,740 | $15.74 | Not published | Not published |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $32,420 | $15.59 | 90 | 0.8 |
| Dubuque, IA | $32,340 | $15.55 | 30 | 0.5 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $32,320 | $15.54 | 1,160 | 0.3 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $32,290 | $15.53 | 140 | 0.1 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $32,250 | $15.50 | 30 | 0.3 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,990 | $15.38 | 40 | 0.4 |
| Tulsa, OK | $31,600 | $15.19 | 40 | 0.1 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $31,440 | $15.12 | 1,500 | 1.1 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $31,420 | $15.10 | 70 | 0.4 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $31,370 | $15.08 | Not published | Not published |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $31,320 | $15.06 | 130 | 0.4 |
| Dover, DE | $31,200 | $15.00 | Not published | Not published |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $31,200 | $15.00 | 940 | 0.3 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $31,200 | $15.00 | Not published | Not published |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | $15.00 | 30 | 0.3 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | $15.00 | 40 | 0.4 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $31,080 | $14.94 | 1,780 | 0.6 |
| Birmingham, AL | $30,840 | $14.83 | Not published | Not published |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,780 | $14.80 | 90 | 0.2 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $30,590 | $14.71 | Not published | Not published |
| Jackson, MS | $30,570 | $14.70 | 110 | 0.4 |
| Asheville, NC | $30,450 | $14.64 | 150 | 0.9 |
| Wilmington, NC | $30,350 | $14.59 | 280 | 1.5 |
| Billings, MT | $30,310 | $14.57 | 100 | 1.0 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,280 | $14.56 | 470 | 0.4 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $30,200 | $14.52 | 100 | 2.3 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,060 | $14.45 | 310 | 1.1 |
| Burlington, NC | $30,050 | $14.45 | 70 | 1.0 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,890 | $14.37 | 580 | 0.8 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,580 | $14.22 | 40 | 0.3 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $29,300 | $14.09 | 40 | 0.3 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,190 | $14.03 | 250 | 0.7 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,150 | $14.01 | 120 | 0.8 |
| Reading, PA | $28,910 | $13.90 | 60 | 0.3 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,720 | $13.81 | 110 | 1.3 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,620 | $13.76 | 40 | 0.8 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $28,600 | $13.75 | Not published | Not published |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $28,480 | $13.69 | 50 | 0.3 |
| Akron, OH | $28,290 | $13.60 | 190 | 0.6 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $28,170 | $13.54 | Not published | Not published |
| El Paso, TX | $28,160 | $13.54 | 130 | 0.4 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,090 | $13.50 | 490 | 0.4 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $28,030 | $13.47 | 360 | 1.0 |
| Lubbock, TX | $28,020 | $13.47 | 40 | 0.2 |
| Cleveland, OH | $27,700 | $13.32 | 510 | 0.5 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $27,280 | $13.12 | 1,500 | 0.5 |
| Missoula, MT | $27,210 | $13.08 | 50 | 0.8 |
| Savannah, GA | $27,130 | $13.04 | 210 | 1.0 |
| Columbus, OH | $27,080 | $13.02 | 820 | 0.7 |
| Toledo, OH | $26,900 | $12.94 | Not published | Not published |
| Jacksonville, NC | $26,830 | $12.90 | 80 | 1.6 |
| Mansfield, OH | $26,810 | $12.89 | 40 | 0.7 |
| Great Falls, MT | $26,500 | $12.74 | 30 | 0.8 |
| Valdosta, GA | $26,440 | $12.71 | 70 | 1.2 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $26,370 | $12.68 | 90 | 0.8 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $26,330 | $12.66 | 100 | 0.6 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,230 | $12.61 | 130 | 0.6 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $25,910 | $12.46 | 120 | 1.3 |
| Madison, WI | $25,850 | $12.43 | Not published | Not published |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $25,470 | $12.25 | Not published | Not published |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $24,220 | $11.64 | 200 | 2.1 |
| Hammond, LA | $24,150 | $11.61 | 280 | 6.0 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $23,570 | $11.33 | 70 | 0.1 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $23,420 | $11.26 | 1,200 | 2.7 |
| Gainesville, GA | $23,160 | $11.14 | 100 | 0.9 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $22,230 | $10.69 | 300 | 0.8 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $22,100 | $10.63 | 80 | 1.0 |
| Rome, GA | $22,050 | $10.60 | 80 | 1.7 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $22,020 | $10.59 | 80 | 0.9 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $21,640 | $10.40 | 540 | 1.3 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $21,370 | $10.27 | 120 | 0.3 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $21,370 | $10.28 | 110 | 1.3 |
| Columbia, SC | $20,920 | $10.06 | Not published | Not published |
| Lake Charles, LA | $20,470 | $9.84 | 160 | 1.6 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $20,330 | $9.78 | 270 | 1.7 |
| Monroe, LA | $19,500 | $9.38 | 130 | 1.5 |
| Lafayette, LA | $19,420 | $9.34 | 380 | 2.1 |
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.