Bakersfield-Delano, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $35,900 ($17.26/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,100/year and the 90th was $44,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,607 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 100.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,900$17.26 per hour · $2,992 monthly
10th Percentile$32,100$15.43/hr base
25th Percentile$33,700$16.20/hr base
75th Percentile$40,600$19.52/hr base
90th Percentile$44,200$21.25/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$35,900
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,900
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,607After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,551Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,177Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,128 / yr
California state income tax$419 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,746 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$15.43/hr$2,675$32,100$27,706
25th Percentile$16.20/hr$2,808$33,700$28,927
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.26/hr$2,992$35,900$30,607
75th Percentile$19.52/hr$3,383$40,600$34,195
90th Percentile$21.25/hr$3,683$44,200$36,944

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$70,210Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index100.90.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.1%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA is $35,900, which equates to approximately $2,992 per month or $17.26 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA is $17.26 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.43/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.25/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Bakersfield-Delano, CA span from $32,100 at the 10th percentile to $33,700 at the 25th, $40,600 at the 75th, and $44,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

On a median gross salary of $35,900, an estimated $30,607 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,177 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,293 (an effective rate of 14.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

On the median annual salary of $35,900, gross monthly income is $2,992. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,551 per month (or $1,177 every two weeks).

Is $35,900 a good salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

At $35,900, the median salary for food preparation workers is 51.1% of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA median household income ($70,210). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 100.9, making regional consumer goods and services 0.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.