Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in California
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in California earn a median of $36,910 a year ($17.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,130 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,840. California ranks 11th of 44 states for food preparation and serving related workers, all other pay. There are 1.7 food preparation and serving related workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 25th percentile | $35,410 | $17.03 |
| Median | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| 75th percentile | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,130 | $25.54 |
| Average (mean) | $41,370 | $19.89 |
Half of food preparation and serving related workers, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,075.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,537.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,419.62 |
| Weekly | $709.81 |
| Hourly | $17.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,720 | 1,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,970 | 2,740 |
| Napa, CA | $39,080 | 320 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,910 | 390 |
| Redding, CA | $38,770 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,760 | 550 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,330 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,810 | 14,270 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,440 | 330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,360 | 290 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,350 | 1,010 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,330 | 3,340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,120 | 240 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,760 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $35,690 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $35,490 | 390 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,350 | 160 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $35,260 | 3,180 |
| Yuba City, CA | $35,150 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $34,950 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $34,720 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,560 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation and serving related workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $46,170 |
| Hawaii | $43,540 |
| Oregon | $39,080 |
| Illinois | $38,880 |
| District of Columbia | $38,580 |
| New Hampshire | $38,210 |
| Indiana | $38,160 |
| Arizona | $37,600 |
| Maryland | $37,500 |
| Utah | $37,180 |
See Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-9099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related workers, all other make in California?
The median salary for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in California is $36,910 a year, or $17.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation and serving related workers, all other make in California?
The top 10% of food preparation and serving related workers, all other in California earn at least $53,130 a year. The top 25% earn $43,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,530 a year, and a quarter of food preparation and serving related workers, all other earn $35,410 or less.
How many food preparation and serving related workers, all other work in California?
About 30,730 food preparation and serving related workers, all other are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.