Food Preparation Worker salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
Food Preparation Workers in the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area earn a median of $37,000 a year ($17.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,110 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 3% higher than the Florida statewide median of $35,920. There are 9.3 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,880, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Port St. Lucie, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| 25th percentile | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| Median | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| 75th percentile | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,110 | $20.72 |
| Average (mean) | $35,880 | $17.25 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $3,083.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,541.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,423.08 |
| Weekly | $711.54 |
| Hourly | $17.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,190 | 1,610 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,320 | 3,480 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | 4,630 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,680 | 1,050 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,560 | 2,460 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,330 | 10,150 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,310 | 760 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,090 | 19,630 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,870 | 2,050 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,600 | 10,300 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,600 | 630 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,410 | 500 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,050 | 1,320 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 | 430 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,880 | 1,680 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,850 | 2,540 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,770 | 700 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,610 | 1,930 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,560 | 960 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 | 1,570 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,330 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Port St. Lucie, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,410 | $13.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,130 | $14.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Bartender | $33,720 | $16.21 |
| Dishwasher | $30,540 | $14.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,130 | $26.99 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,020 | $17.32 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Port St. Lucie, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 worker make in Port St. Lucie, FL?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area is $37,000 a year, or $17.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Port St. Lucie, FL?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area earn at least $43,110 a year. The top 25% earn $37,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Port St. Lucie, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,260 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $32,380 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Port St. Lucie, FL?
About 1,590 food preparation workers are employed in the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.