SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Vallejo
Vallejo, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Vallejo, CA comes to $38,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 10.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Vallejo, CA comes to $38,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,320 by 10.0%. Pay ranges from under $35,770 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,610 to $44,370.
Employment stands at 930, or 6.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $45,580. Of the 366 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 340th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,770 | +1.3% |
| 25th | $36,610 | +3.7% |
| Median (50th) | $38,840 | +10.0% |
| 75th | $44,370 | +25.6% |
| 90th | $47,590 | +34.7% |
| Mean | $41,390 | +17.2% |
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 | San Diego | $38,780 | 9,360 | |
| 9 | El Centro | $38,610 | 320 | |
| 10 | San Luis Obispo | $38,550 | 900 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Vallejo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,840 buys what $35,086 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,086US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,840 a year, 10.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,770 to $47,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 930 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 Vallejo, CA?
The median annual wage is $38,840, or $18.68 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 Vallejo, CA is 10.0% 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 Vallejo, CA earns more than $47,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,770 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 930 jobs in this occupation in Vallejo, 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.
Explore related data