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Food Preparation Workers Employment & Job Outlook in Texas (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Texas employs 81,280 Food Preparation Workers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Texas employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
81,280
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
81.28
workers
Location Quotient
4.64
vs national avg
Average Salary
$32K
annual

High Demand in Texas

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.64 indicates that Texas has a higher-than-average concentration of Food Preparation Workers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Texas vs National Average

Total Employed
81,280
National: 893,600
9.1% of national
Jobs per 1,000
81.28
National: 17.52
+363.9%
Average Salary
$32K
National: $34K
-7.5%

Top States by Food Preparation Workers Employment

#1
112,750
112,750
employed
#2
81,280
81,280
employed
#3
73,100
73,100
employed
#4
62,380
62,380
employed
#5
34,820
34,820
employed
#6
30,920
30,920
employed
#7
26,450
26,450
employed
#8
24,960
24,960
employed
#9
24,730
24,730
employed
#10
24,620
24,620
employed

What Does a Food Preparation Workers Earn in Texas?

The average annual salary for a Food Preparation Workers in Texas is $32,120. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Food Preparation Workers jobs are there in Texas?

Texas employs approximately 81,280 Food Preparation Workers professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Texas among the top states nationwide.

Is Food Preparation Workers in demand in Texas?

Yes — Texas has above-average concentration of Food Preparation Workers jobs (LQ: 4.64). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Food Preparation Workers in Texas?

The average (mean) salary for Food Preparation Workers in Texas is $32120/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Food Preparation Workers professionals?

The top state for Food Preparation Workers employment is California with 112,750 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

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Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Texas's leading institutions.

Food Preparation Workers Employment in Other States

Compare Food Preparation Workers labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Food Preparation Workers & Texas Resources

Drill deeper into Food Preparation Workers pay, hiring, and education data for Texas.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Food Preparation Workers (SOC 352021) in Texas.

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