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Colorado Springs, CO · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Colorado Springs, CO

In the Colorado Springs, CO metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $38,100 ($18.32/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,100/year and the 90th was $47,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Colorado tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,825 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 100.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$38,100$18.32 per hour · $3,175 monthly
10th Percentile$30,100$14.47/hr base
25th Percentile$33,900$16.30/hr base
75th Percentile$43,700$21.01/hr base
90th Percentile$47,900$23.03/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 payWhat $38,000 a year leaves after tax in ColoradoFederal tax, FICA and Colorado withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $38,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $38,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Colorado publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Colorado.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$38,100
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,100
Net 84%
Fed 6%
CO 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,825After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,652Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,224Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,392 / yr
Colorado state income tax$968 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,915 / yr
Customize deductions in full Colorado calculator

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Colorado Springs, CO

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 Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CO)
10th Percentile$14.47/hr$2,508$30,100$25,749
25th Percentile$16.30/hr$2,825$33,900$28,635
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$18.32/hr$3,175$38,100$31,825
75th Percentile$21.01/hr$3,642$43,700$36,079
90th Percentile$23.03/hr$3,992$47,900$39,268

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Colorado Springs, CO

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$38,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$90,144Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index100.70.7% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio42.3%of area median income

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

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Food Preparation Workers pay in other Colorado metros

These metro areas are in the same state and closest in population to Colorado Springs, CO. Compare their wage distributions before using a statewide average.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Colorado Springs, CO

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO is $38,100, which equates to approximately $3,175 per month or $18.32 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO is $18.32 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.47/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.03/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Colorado Springs, CO span from $30,100 at the 10th percentile to $33,900 at the 25th, $43,700 at the 75th, and $47,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Colorado Springs, CO?

On a median gross salary of $38,100, an estimated $31,825 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,224 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Colorado in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,275 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Colorado Springs, CO?

On the median annual salary of $38,100, gross monthly income is $3,175. After federal, FICA, and Colorado state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,652 per month (or $1,224 every two weeks).

Is $38,100 a good salary in Colorado Springs, CO?

At $38,100, the median salary for food preparation workers is 42.3% of the Colorado Springs, CO median household income ($90,144). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 100.7, making regional consumer goods and services 0.7% more expensive than the U.S. average.