Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $37,800 ($18.17/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,800/year and the 90th was $46,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $32,058 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 106.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,800$18.17 per hour · $3,150 monthly
10th Percentile$33,800$16.25/hr base
25th Percentile$35,600$17.12/hr base
75th Percentile$42,800$20.58/hr base
90th Percentile$46,600$22.40/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

$37,800
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,800
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,058After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,671Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,233Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,356 / yr
California state income tax$495 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,892 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$16.25/hr$2,817$33,800$29,004
25th Percentile$17.12/hr$2,967$35,600$30,378
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$18.17/hr$3,150$37,800$32,058
75th Percentile$20.58/hr$3,567$42,800$35,875
90th Percentile$22.40/hr$3,883$46,600$38,776

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$37,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$89,662Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index106.46.4% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio42.2%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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $37,800, which equates to approximately $3,150 per month or $18.17 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $18.17 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.25/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.40/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA span from $33,800 at the 10th percentile to $35,600 at the 25th, $42,800 at the 75th, and $46,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

On a median gross salary of $37,800, an estimated $32,058 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,233 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,742 (an effective rate of 15.2%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

On the median annual salary of $37,800, gross monthly income is $3,150. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,671 per month (or $1,233 every two weeks).

Is $37,800 a good salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

At $37,800, the median salary for food preparation workers is 42.2% of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA median household income ($89,662). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 106.4, making regional consumer goods and services 6.4% more expensive than the U.S. average.