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Walla Walla, WA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Walla Walla, WA?

In the Walla Walla, WA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $40,030 a year ($19.25 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 210 of these jobs there. That is 25% below the $53,100 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $34,650 and $44,850; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Washington tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $34,344 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Walla Walla, WA at a glance

Median salary

$40,030$19.25 per hour · $3,336 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$34,650$16.66/hr
25th percentile$34,650$16.66/hr
75th percentile$44,850$21.56/hr
90th percentile$44,850$21.56/hr
Jobs in this metro210Location quotient 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here25% belowAll-jobs median $53,100
Against Washington2% belowStatewide median $40,910
Against the U.S.13% 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 $40,000 a year leaves after tax in WashingtonFederal tax, FICA and Washington withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$19 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $40,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $40,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Washington publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Washington.

Food preparation worker salary in Walla Walla, WA after taxes

$40,030
$15,000$85,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$40,030
Net 86%
Fed 7%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$34,344After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,862Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,321Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,624 / yr
Washington state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,062 / yr
Customize deductions in full Washington calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Walla Walla, WA, hourly and yearly

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Walla Walla, WA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WA)
10th percentile$16.66/hr$2,888$34,650$30,021
25th percentile$16.66/hr$2,888$34,650$30,021
MedianMedian$19.25/hr$3,336$40,030$34,344
75th percentile$21.56/hr$3,738$44,850$38,217
90th percentile$21.56/hr$3,738$44,850$38,217

Is $40,030 a good salary in Walla Walla, WA?

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$74,202Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)98.51.5% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household53.9%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 Washington metros

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

Food preparation worker pay in Walla Walla, WA: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Walla Walla, WA metro area was $40,030 in May 2025, about $3,336 a month or $19.25 an hour. Statewide, the Washington median for this job is $40,910, so the metro pays 2% below the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Walla Walla, WA was $19.25 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.66 an hour and one in ten earned more than $21.56.

How many food preparation workers work in Walla Walla, WA?

BLS estimated 210 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 8.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.42 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Walla Walla, WA run from $34,650 at the 10th percentile to $34,650 at the 25th, $44,850 at the 75th, and $44,850 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $40,030, an estimated $34,344 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,321 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Washington in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,686 (an effective rate of 14.2%).

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

On the median annual salary of $40,030, gross monthly income is $3,336. After federal, FICA, and Washington state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,862 per month (or $1,321 every two weeks).

Is $40,030 a good salary in Walla Walla, WA?

At $40,030, the median salary for food preparation workers is 53.9% of the Walla Walla, WA median household income ($74,202). It is 25% below the $53,100 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 98.5, so prices here run 1.5% below the U.S. average.