occupation · 35-2021 · Texas
Food Preparation Workers in Texas
Food Preparation Workers earned a median annual wage of $28,660 in Texas in May 2024, with 106,040 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
What stands out
Food Preparation Workers earned a median annual wage of $28,660 in Texas in May 2024, with 106,040 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The lowest-paid tenth earned $22,040 or less, the best-paid tenth $38,860 or more. Since May 2020 the median moved from $23,940 to $28,660, +19.7 %. Among the 54 states with data, Texas ranks 44 by median wage for this occupation. The national median is $34,220; Texas is -16.2 % against it. Wages are as published by BLS for May of each year; '≥ $239,200' is BLS's top code for May 2024 (the cap changes by year). Every value links to its fact record.
Texas, year by year
Annual wages at the median, mean and four percentiles; employment is the May estimate.
| Reference | Employment | Median | Mean | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | 106,040 | $28,660 | $30,140 | $22,040 | $24,680 | $35,510 | $38,860 | $13.78 | evidence → |
| May 2023 | 92,020 | $28,890 | $29,820 | $21,990 | $23,890 | $34,680 | $37,480 | $13.89 | evidence → |
| May 2022 | 130,320 | $27,330 | $27,480 | $21,340 | $22,700 | $29,830 | $35,040 | $13.14 | evidence → |
| May 2021 | 57,250 | $28,350 | $27,710 | $19,960 | $22,890 | $30,500 | $37,280 | $13.63 | evidence → |
| May 2020 | 61,340 | $23,940 | $24,740 | $17,300 | $19,380 | $29,420 | $34,100 | $11.51 | evidence → |
Metropolitan areas in Texas
Median annual wage for this occupation, May 2024.
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $33,310 | 10,020 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,250 | 24,250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $29,770 | 22,840 |
| Midland, TX | $29,620 | 840 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,570 | 8,560 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $28,190 | 530 |
| Odessa, TX | $27,970 | 990 |
| Waco, TX | $27,840 | 1,330 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $27,210 | 2,490 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $27,020 | 1,790 |
| San Angelo, TX | $27,000 | 580 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $26,920 | 1,580 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $26,910 | 1,400 |
| Amarillo, TX | $26,570 | 1,230 |
| Abilene, TX | $26,560 | 770 |
| Victoria, TX | $26,550 | 500 |
| Lubbock, TX | $26,170 | 1,910 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $26,140 | 700 |
| Tyler, TX | $25,020 | 1,040 |
| Longview, TX | $24,080 | 1,140 |
| El Paso, TX | $23,980 | 3,840 |
| Laredo, TX | $23,940 | 1,040 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $23,810 | 3,240 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $23,570 | 490 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $23,220 | 2,640 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $22,660 | 220 |
Machine access — free, no API key
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