Cooks and Food Preparation Workers Wages
SOC 35-2000 • Full occupation profile
The median annual wage for Cooks and Food Preparation Workers is $34,020 nationally (2023 BLS OEWS). The 10th percentile is $23,310 and the 90th percentile is $44,920, showing the wide spread of wages in this occupation.
National Wage Distribution (2023)
Employment
3,546,860
P10
$23,310
P25
$28,460
Median
$34,020
P75
$37,680
P90
$44,920
National Wage Trend
How national median and mean wages for Cooks and Food Preparation Workers have moved across BLS OEWS release years.
| Year | Median | Mean | P10 | P90 | Employment | YoY Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,020 | $34,010 | $23,310 | $44,920 | 3,546,860 | — |
| 2022 | $30,590 | $31,730 | $21,930 | $42,140 | 3,521,670 | -10.08% |
| 2021 | $29,100 | $29,380 | $19,760 | $38,320 | 3,281,610 | -4.87% |
| 2020 | $27,070 | $27,820 | $18,830 | $38,490 | 2,977,730 | -6.98% |