SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Spokane
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA · 10 metro areas compared
At $36,360, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Spokane, WA tracks the national median of $35,320 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,360, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Spokane, WA tracks the national median of $35,320 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $34,780 and $40,820. The lowest tenth earn under $34,650, while the highest tenth earn more than $45,870.
The area has 1,310 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.89 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $43,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 454th of 468 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,650 | −1.9% |
| 25th | $34,780 | −1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $36,360 | +2.9% |
| 75th | $40,820 | +15.6% |
| 90th | $45,870 | +29.9% |
| Mean | $39,060 | +10.6% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $43,830 | 11,060 | |
| 2 | Yakima | $41,750 | 600 | |
| 3 | Walla Walla | $40,030 | 210 | |
| 4 | Bremerton | $39,400 | 580 | |
| 5 | Longview | $38,460 | 260 | |
| 6 | Kennewick | $38,390 | 810 | |
| 7 | Bellingham | $38,240 | 630 | |
| 8 | Olympia | $37,950 | 680 | |
| 9 | Mount Vernon | $37,740 | 280 | |
| 10 | Wenatchee | $36,580 | 330 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Spokane run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $36,360 buys what $33,981 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,981US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,360 a year, 2.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,650 to $45,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $43,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Spokane, WA?
The median annual wage is $36,360, or $17.48 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 Spokane, WA is 2.9% 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 Spokane, WA earns more than $45,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,650 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 Seattle, at $43,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,310 jobs in this occupation in Spokane, WA. 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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