Yakima, WA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Yakima, WA

In the Yakima, WA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $36,500 ($17.55/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200/year and the 90th was $46,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Washington tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,508 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 95.5 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,500$17.55 per hour · $3,042 monthly
10th Percentile$31,200$15.00/hr base
25th Percentile$32,000$15.38/hr base
75th Percentile$42,300$20.34/hr base
90th Percentile$46,200$22.21/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

$36,500
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,500
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,508After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,626Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,212Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,200 / yr
Washington state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,792 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Yakima, WA

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 Yakima, WA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (WA)
10th Percentile$15.00/hr$2,600$31,200$27,249
25th Percentile$15.38/hr$2,667$32,000$27,892
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.55/hr$3,042$36,500$31,508
75th Percentile$20.34/hr$3,525$42,300$36,168
90th Percentile$22.21/hr$3,850$46,200$39,302

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Yakima, WA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$70,656Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index95.54.5% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.7%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Yakima, WA

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA is $36,500, which equates to approximately $3,042 per month or $17.55 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA is $17.55 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.00/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.21/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Yakima, WA span from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $32,000 at the 25th, $42,300 at the 75th, and $46,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Yakima, WA?

On a median gross salary of $36,500, an estimated $31,508 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,212 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Washington in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,992 (an effective rate of 13.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Yakima, WA?

On the median annual salary of $36,500, gross monthly income is $3,042. After federal, FICA, and Washington state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,626 per month (or $1,212 every two weeks).

Is $36,500 a good salary in Yakima, WA?

At $36,500, the median salary for food preparation workers is 51.7% of the Yakima, WA median household income ($70,656). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 95.5, making regional consumer goods and services 4.5% cheaper than the U.S. average.