Food Preparation Worker salary in Wichita Falls, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Wichita Falls, TX metro area earn a median of $35,700 a year ($17.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,340 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 16% higher than the Texas statewide median of $30,650. There are 10 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,040, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Wichita Falls, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,530 | $10.83 |
| 25th percentile | $26,140 | $12.57 |
| Median | $35,700 | $17.17 |
| 75th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Average (mean) | $32,040 | $15.40 |
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 | $2,975 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,487.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,373.08 |
| Weekly | $686.54 |
| Hourly | $17.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,700 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,020 | 16,240 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,880 | 9,350 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,390 | 7,910 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,380 | 1,680 |
| Midland, TX | $33,200 | 500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,740 | 21,700 |
| Odessa, TX | $30,550 | 470 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,300 | 910 |
| Amarillo, TX | $29,160 | 770 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $28,700 | 880 |
| Waco, TX | $28,690 | 940 |
| San Angelo, TX | $28,640 | 340 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $28,620 | 290 |
| Lubbock, TX | $28,550 | 1,140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $28,430 | 1,810 |
| Abilene, TX | $28,250 | 410 |
| Tyler, TX | $28,150 | 730 |
| Laredo, TX | $27,780 | 700 |
| Victoria, TX | $27,680 | 230 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $27,390 | 90 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,290 | 310 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,960 | 1,750 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $26,180 | 1,390 |
| Longview, TX | $26,150 | 700 |
| El Paso, TX | $25,810 | 2,220 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wichita Falls, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,430 | $10.79 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,540 | $12.28 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,980 | $11.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $32,570 | $15.66 |
| Bartender | $21,460 | $10.32 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $20,890 | $10.05 |
| Dishwasher | $28,380 | $13.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,510 | $11.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,080 | $13.02 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wichita Falls, TX
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 Wichita Falls, TX?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Wichita Falls, TX metro area is $35,700 a year, or $17.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Wichita Falls, TX?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Wichita Falls, TX metro area earn at least $37,340 a year. The top 25% earn $37,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Wichita Falls, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,530 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $26,140 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Wichita Falls, TX?
About 580 food preparation workers are employed in the Wichita Falls, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.