SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lincoln, NE is $35,210 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lincoln, NE is $35,210 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $29,100 at the tenth percentile to more than $40,510 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $32,840 to $36,970.
The area has 1,270 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 7.0 of every thousand jobs. Omaha leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,140. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 412th of 446 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,100 | −17.6% |
| 25th | $32,840 | −7.0% |
| Median (50th) | $35,210 | −0.3% |
| 75th | $36,970 | +4.7% |
| 90th | $40,510 | +14.7% |
| Mean | $35,290 | −0.1% |
Other metro areas in Nebraska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha | $36,140 | 3,690 | |
| 2 | Grand Island | $34,590 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lincoln run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $35,210 goes as far as $39,079 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,079US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,210 a year, 0.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,100 to $40,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,270 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Omaha, at $36,140.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lincoln, NE?
The median annual wage is $35,210, or $16.93 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 Lincoln, NE is 0.3% 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 Lincoln, NE earns more than $40,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,100 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 Omaha, at $36,140 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,270 jobs in this occupation in Lincoln, NE. 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.
Explore related data