Food Preparation Workers Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$34,220
↑ 77.6% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Food Preparation Workers — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Food Preparation Workers — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 77.6% since 2011 ($19,270 → $34,220)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $34,220
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 5.1% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately +21%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $34,220 | +5.6% |
| 2023 | $32,420 | +8.8% |
| 2022 | $29,790 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,780 | +10.4% |
| 2020 | $26,070 | +5.1% |
| 2019 | $24,800 | +4.5% |
| 2018 | $23,730 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | $22,730 | +6.0% |
| 2016 | $21,440 | +6.2% |
| 2015 | $20,180 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | $19,560 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | $19,440 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | $19,300 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | $19,270 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.