SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Sacramento
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Sacramento, CA comes to $38,480 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 8.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Sacramento, CA comes to $38,480 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 8.9%. Pay ranges from under $34,860 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,980 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,880 to $43,950.
Employment stands at 5,510, or 5.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $45,580. Of the 648 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 609th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,860 | −1.3% |
| 25th | $35,880 | +1.6% |
| Median (50th) | $38,480 | +8.9% |
| 75th | $43,950 | +24.4% |
| 90th | $48,980 | +38.7% |
| Mean | $40,600 | +14.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $45,580 | 5,930 | |
| 2 | Napa | $42,810 | 620 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $42,640 | 1,410 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $41,000 | 14,470 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $39,770 | 44,930 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $39,110 | 830 | |
| 7 | Merced | $38,980 | 460 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $38,840 | 930 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $38,780 | 9,360 | |
| 10 | El Centro | $38,610 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Sacramento run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,480 buys what $34,761 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,480as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,761US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,480 a year, 8.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,860 to $48,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $45,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Sacramento, CA?
The median annual wage is $38,480, or $18.50 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 Sacramento, CA is 8.9% higher. 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 Sacramento, CA earns more than $48,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,860 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 San Jose, at $45,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,510 jobs in this occupation in Sacramento, CA. 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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