SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — El Paso
El Paso, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in El Paso, TX is $25,810 a year, 26.9% under the national median of $35,320 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in El Paso, TX is $25,810 a year, 26.9% under the national median of $35,320 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $21,800 and $30,490. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $19,100 and the ninetieth at $36,040.
The area has 2,220 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 6.5 of every thousand jobs. Wichita Falls leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 460th of 476 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,100 | −45.9% |
| 25th | $21,800 | −38.3% |
| Median (50th) | $25,810 | −26.9% |
| 75th | $30,490 | −13.7% |
| 90th | $36,040 | +2.0% |
| Mean | $26,920 | −23.8% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita Falls | $35,700 | 580 | |
| 2 | Houston | $35,020 | 16,240 | |
| 3 | Austin | $34,880 | 9,350 | |
| 4 | San Antonio | $34,390 | 7,910 | |
| 5 | College Station | $34,380 | 1,680 | |
| 6 | Midland | $33,200 | 500 | |
| 7 | Dallas | $30,740 | 21,700 | |
| 8 | Odessa | $30,550 | 470 | |
| 9 | Killeen | $30,300 | 910 | |
| 10 | Amarillo | $29,160 | 770 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in El Paso run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $25,810 goes as far as $26,581 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$25,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,581US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $25,810 a year, 26.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,100 to $36,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wichita Falls, at $35,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in El Paso, TX?
The median annual wage is $25,810, or $12.41 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,320, so pay in El Paso, TX is 26.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in El Paso, TX earns more than $36,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Wichita Falls, at $35,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,220 jobs in this occupation in El Paso, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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