Food Preparation Worker salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $39,110 a year ($18.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 830 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,540 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $39,350. There are 8.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 25th percentile | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Median | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 75th percentile | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| Average (mean) | $42,060 | $20.22 |
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 | $3,259.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,629.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,504.23 |
| Weekly | $752.12 |
| Hourly | $18.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,580 | 5,930 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $42,640 | 1,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,000 | 14,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | 44,930 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 | 930 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,780 | 9,360 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 | 320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | 900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,480 | 5,510 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,470 | 1,490 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,420 | 11,190 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,740 | 320 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,730 | 2,090 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,680 | 1,910 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,550 | 1,470 |
| Chico, CA | $37,510 | 480 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,430 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,090 | 1,950 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,020 | 760 |
| Redding, CA | $36,400 | 420 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,850 | $22.53 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Bartender | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,640 | $17.14 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,190 | $28.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,860 | $18.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $39,110 a year, or $18.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $50,540 a year. The top 25% earn $45,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,170 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $36,810 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 830 food preparation workers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.