Quick answer
Food Preparation Workers in California earned a median of $39,350 a year ($18.92 an hour) in May 2025, 11% above the national median of $35,320; 112,750 were employed there, ranking #3 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Mean annual wage | $41,480 | $35,290 |
| Median hourly wage | $18.92 | $16.98 |
| 10th percentile | $35,190 | $25,810 |
| 25th percentile | $37,010 | $29,950 |
| 75th percentile | $44,540 | $38,550 |
| 90th percentile | $48,470 | $45,340 |
| Employment | 112,750 | 893,600 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 6.19 | — |
| Location quotient | 1.08 | 1.00 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.