Skip to main content
County Paycheck

Food Preparation Workers Salary in Washington

What Food Preparation Workers earn in Washington, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 5 counties.

Average in WA
$40,765
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
1 of 24
published states
Workers in state
25,420
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
5 counties

Pay by labor market in Washington

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in Washington
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$43,830$37,346$4,136King County, WA
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$38,730$33,248$6,602Clark County, WA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in Washington counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Pierce County, WA$43,830$37,346$10,112
2Clark County, WA$38,730$33,248$6,602
3Skamania County, WA$38,730$33,248$6,602
4King County, WA$43,830$37,346$4,136
5Snohomish County, WA$43,830$37,346$4,136

Food Preparation Workers pay in Washington

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in Washington is $40,765, based on 25,420 workers. Among the 24 states with published data, that ranks number 1. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so Washington averages 15.4% above it.

Inside Washington, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $43,830 in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area and the lowest is $38,730 in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, a difference of $5,100 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in Washington

We compare 5 Washington counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Pierce County, WA leaves the largest yearly margin, $10,112. Snohomish County, WA leaves the smallest, $4,136. The median wage covers all four basics in 5 of the 5 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are California ($39,696), New Hampshire ($39,052), Massachusetts ($38,435) and District of Columbia ($37,630).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in Washington

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in Washington?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $40,765, from $38,730 to $43,830 depending on the labor market.

Which Washington county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Pierce County, WA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($10,112). Clark County, WA follows at $6,602.