Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Rhode Island employs 49,570 Food Preparation & Serving professionals across 14 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Food Preparation & Serving industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Food Preparation & Serving in Rhode Island, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Food Preparation & Serving industry in Rhode Island, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,930 | $84,860 | 740 | $38/hr |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,400 | $53,800 | 3,320 | $23/hr |
| 3 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,570 | $46,620 | 1,190 | $22/hr |
| 4 | Cooks, Short Order | $46,250 | $43,410 | N/A | $22/hr |
| 5 | Cooks, Restaurant | $36,510 | $40,290 | 6,950 | $17/hr |
| 6 | Bartenders | $36,410 | $46,090 | 3,170 | $17/hr |
| 7 | Food Preparation Workers | $35,470 | $37,910 | 2,830 | $17/hr |
| 8 | Waiters and Waitresses | $35,420 | $42,740 | 10,160 | $17/hr |
| 9 | Cooks, Fast Food | $35,230 | $33,960 | 1,210 | $16/hr |
| 10 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,860 | $36,150 | 1,020 | $16/hr |
| 11 | Dishwashers | $33,960 | $34,470 | 2,790 | $16/hr |
| 12 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,490 | $34,040 | 13,310 | $15/hr |
| 13 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,400 | $34,330 | N/A | $15/hr |
| 14 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $35,170 | 2,880 | $15/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Rhode Island:
Rhode Island has 14 Food Preparation & Serving occupations with 49,570 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Food Preparation & Serving occupation in Rhode Island is Chefs and Head Cooks with a median salary of $79,930/year.
The average median salary across 14 Food Preparation & Serving occupations in Rhode Island is $40,221/year.
Salaries in Food Preparation & Serving in Rhode Island range from $31,200 (entry-level) to $127,080 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Food Preparation & Serving occupations use SOC prefix 35. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 35* in Rhode Island. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources