Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Explore Food Preparation & Serving salary data across 51 states. This industry covers 15 occupations with 13,663,580 workers nationally. Average median salary: $36K.
Compare Food Preparation & Serving salaries across states. Click any state for industry details.
Click any state to see all Food Preparation & Serving jobs, salaries, and employment data for that state.
All 51 states ranked by average Food Preparation & Serving salary. Click any state for full details.
| # | State | Avg Salary | Occupations | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $49K | 14 | 81,830 |
| 2 | Washington | $47K | 14 | 294,450 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $46K | 14 | 56,920 |
| 4 | New York | $42K | 15 | 727,610 |
| 5 | Vermont | $42K | 14 | 25,000 |
| 6 | California | $42K | 14 | 1,588,130 |
| 7 | Colorado | $41K | 14 | 266,610 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $41K | 14 | 289,910 |
| 9 | Oregon | $41K | 14 | 181,690 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $41K | 14 | 312,710 |
| 11 | Maine | $41K | 14 | 55,110 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $40K | 14 | 136,700 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40K | 14 | 49,570 |
| 14 | Arizona | $39K | 14 | 280,000 |
| 15 | Maryland | $38K | 14 | 208,980 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $38K | 14 | 57,180 |
| 17 | Delaware | $38K | 14 | 45,290 |
| 18 | Virginia | $38K | 14 | 337,870 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $36K | 13 | 35,550 |
| 20 | Alaska | $36K | 14 | 27,570 |
| 21 | Illinois | $36K | 14 | 491,680 |
| 22 | Nevada | $36K | 14 | 202,870 |
| 23 | Florida | $36K | 14 | 1,006,030 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $36K | 14 | 242,330 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $35K | 14 | 82,010 |
| 26 | Michigan | $35K | 14 | 359,330 |
| 27 | Missouri | $34K | 14 | 252,150 |
| 28 | Utah | $34K | 14 | 135,790 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $34K | 14 | 90,790 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $34K | 14 | 447,600 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $33K | 14 | 488,350 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $33K | 14 | 296,920 |
| 33 | Idaho | $33K | 14 | 73,900 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $33K | 14 | 247,570 |
| 35 | Montana | $33K | 14 | 52,160 |
| 36 | Ohio | $33K | 14 | 491,210 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $33K | 13 | 25,670 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $33K | 14 | 45,230 |
| 39 | Kansas | $32K | 14 | 123,800 |
| 40 | Georgia | $32K | 14 | 434,140 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $32K | 14 | 228,680 |
| 42 | Indiana | $31K | 14 | 274,140 |
| 43 | Iowa | $31K | 14 | 134,490 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $30K | 14 | 175,540 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $30K | 14 | 60,710 |
| 46 | Texas | $30K | 14 | 1,290,550 |
| 47 | Alabama | $30K | 14 | 181,700 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $29K | 14 | 166,880 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $29K | 14 | 111,400 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $28K | 14 | 108,640 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $26K | 14 | 182,800 |
About Food Preparation & Serving (SOC 35*)
Food Preparation & Serving occupations are classified under SOC prefix 35 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This group covers 15 distinct occupations ranging from entry-level to senior positions. Salary data reflects May 2025 estimates from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
There are 15 distinct Food Preparation & Serving occupations employing 13,663,580 workers nationally (2025 BLS data).
The national average median salary for Food Preparation & Serving occupations is $36,170/year.
Hawaii has the highest average Food Preparation & Serving salary at $49,777/year.
Food Preparation & Serving jobs are available in 51 states.
All data is from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. SOC prefix: 35.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Industry groupings follow the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, prefix 35. Our Methodology · Data Sources
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