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Modesto, CA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Modesto, CA?

In the Modesto, CA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $38,450 a year ($18.49 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,170 of these jobs there. That is 24% below the $50,610 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $34,320 and $47,890; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $32,554 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Modesto, CA at a glance

Median salary

$38,450$18.49 per hour · $3,204 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$34,320$16.50/hr
25th percentile$35,410$17.02/hr
75th percentile$42,860$20.61/hr
90th percentile$47,890$23.02/hr
Jobs in this metro1,170Location quotient 1.04 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here24% belowAll-jobs median $50,610
Against California2% belowStatewide median $39,350
Against the U.S.9% aboveNational median $35,320

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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 CaliforniaFederal tax, FICA and California 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 California publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about California.

Food preparation worker salary in Modesto, CA after taxes

$38,450
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,450
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,554After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,713Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,252Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,434 / yr
California state income tax$521 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,941 / yr
Customize deductions in full California calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Modesto, CA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Modesto, CA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Modesto, CA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (CA)
10th percentile$16.50/hr$2,860$34,320$29,401
25th percentile$17.02/hr$2,951$35,410$30,233
MedianMedian$18.49/hr$3,204$38,450$32,554
75th percentile$20.61/hr$3,572$42,860$35,921
90th percentile$23.02/hr$3,991$47,890$39,747

Is $38,450 a good salary in Modesto, CA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$81,468Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)104.14.1% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household47.2%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other California metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Modesto, CA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Modesto, CA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Modesto, CA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Modesto, CA metro area was $38,450 in May 2025, about $3,204 a month or $18.49 an hour. Statewide, the California median for this job is $39,350, so the metro pays 2% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Modesto, CA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Modesto, CA was $18.49 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.50 an hour and one in ten earned more than $23.02.

How many food preparation workers work in Modesto, CA?

BLS estimated 1,170 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.0 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.04 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Modesto, CA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Modesto, CA run from $34,320 at the 10th percentile to $35,410 at the 25th, $42,860 at the 75th, and $47,890 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Modesto, CA?

On a median gross salary of $38,450, an estimated $32,554 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,252 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,896 (an effective rate of 15.3%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Modesto, CA?

On the median annual salary of $38,450, gross monthly income is $3,204. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,713 per month (or $1,252 every two weeks).

Is $38,450 a good salary in Modesto, CA?

At $38,450, the median salary for food preparation workers is 47.2% of the Modesto, CA median household income ($81,468). It is 24% below the $50,610 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 104.1, so prices here run 4.1% above the U.S. average.