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Dietary aide (food preparation worker): pay, job outlook and how to start

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,320median pay per year, or $16.98 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $25,810lowest 10% earn less
  2. $29,95025th percentile
  3. $35,320median
  4. $38,55075th percentile
  5. $45,340top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Food preparation workers, the BLS category that covers dietary aides, had a median pay of $35,320 a year[1]. No formal education is typically needed to start[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3%[5]
Openings per year
135,700[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[2]

How much do dietary aides and food preparation workers make?

In May 2025, the median pay for Food Preparation Workers was $35,320 a year, or $16.98 an hour[1]. The middle worker earned that amount, with half above and half below. The average was $35,290 a year, or $16.96 an hour[7].

For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sits below the all-occupations figure[1][4].

Here is how annual pay spread out[3]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $25,810 $12.41
25th[3][8] $29,950 $14.40
50th (median)[1] $35,320 $16.98
75th[3][8] $38,550 $18.53
90th[3][8] $45,340 $21.80

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25,810[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages and not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 893,600 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median annual wage at $40,910[12]. The District of Columbia was next at $39,600, then California at $39,350[12]. Louisiana had the lowest median among places with published data, at $23,620[12].

California also has the most jobs, about 112,750[13]. Texas follows with 81,280, then Florida with 73,100[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the top median at $46,680[14]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA came second at $45,580, and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA third at $43,830[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 63,530[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$40,91019,510
District of Columbia$39,6003,970
California$39,350112,750
Colorado$38,96012,080
Massachusetts$38,90013,620
Hawaii$38,1605,950
Oregon$37,45011,860
North Dakota$36,800980
New Hampshire$36,7803,420
Arizona$36,75016,590
Connecticut$36,65012,250
Vermont$36,5501,350
Wyoming$36,1101,620
Maine$36,0304,560
Delaware$35,9302,400
Florida$35,92073,100
Alaska$35,7202,800
New York$35,61062,380
New Jersey$35,54024,730
Maryland$35,50013,280
Rhode Island$35,4702,830
Georgia$35,25026,450
Nebraska$35,2106,890
Virginia$34,90016,340
Illinois$34,85034,820
Minnesota$34,85024,620
Ohio$34,53019,480
Wisconsin$34,07017,990
Montana$33,8602,990
Utah$33,54010,530
Nevada$33,46011,420
New Mexico$33,3706,850
South Carolina$32,18014,460
Idaho$31,5104,670
Missouri$31,51013,650
Michigan$31,18017,380
Pennsylvania$30,84017,940
Texas$30,65081,280
South Dakota$30,4303,270
Iowa$30,3604,170
Kansas$30,2807,680
North Carolina$30,26024,960
Indiana$29,70016,200
Tennessee$28,70019,780
Oklahoma$28,5407,430
West Virginia$28,3602,960
Alabama$27,93017,680
Arkansas$27,6605,500
Kentucky$26,85015,390
Mississippi$26,2407,870
Louisiana$23,62030,920

How to become a dietary aide or food preparation worker

BLS lists no formal educational credential and no related work experience for entry[2].

BLS names several useful qualities. Workers need dexterity to use sharp knives quickly and safely[19]. They work with kitchen staff and follow directions from cooks, chefs or managers[20][21]. They also need stamina and sometimes strength to move heavy supplies[22][23].

O*NET lists sample titles that workers report, including Dietary Aide, Diet Aide, Food Prep and Food Service Worker[24].

What dietary aides and food preparation workers do

O*NET describes the job as many kitchen prep duties that are not cooking, such as cold foods, shellfish, sliced meat and coffee or tea[25]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

Food services and drinking places employed 55% of food preparation workers in 2025[27]. About 1% were self-employed[28].

The work is often strenuous. Workers may stand for hours and move heavy pots or supplies[29]. Kitchens can be hectic at peak dining hours, which may be stressful[30]. Hot ovens and slippery floors create hazards, and BLS ranks injury and illness rates here among the highest of all jobs. Common problems are minor slips, falls, cuts and burns[31].

Part-time work is common. Schedules may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends or holidays[32]. School cafeteria jobs may follow the school year, and seasonal employers may hire for only a few months[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects Food Preparation Workers to fall 3% over 2025 to 2035, with jobs going from roughly 908,500 to 881,300[5]. Across all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth[34]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[5].

Even so, BLS projects about 135,700 openings a year on average[6]. These openings count jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations as well as newly created jobs[6]. Each year, 7.6% of workers leave the labor force and 7.8% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to an entry-level job with a low barrier to start. No formal credential is needed, and training lasts several weeks[2][17]. Pay has a median of $35,320, below the $50,980 all-occupations median[1][4]. The work is physical and can be hectic[29][30]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly, but turnover keeps openings coming[5][6]. Some workers may move up to cook roles[18].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a food preparation worker make an hour?
The median was $16.98 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $12.41 and the 90th was $21.80[8].
What education do you need to be a dietary aide?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for food preparation workers[2]. Employers may require or prefer some high school education[16].
How long does it take to learn food prep work?
Training is short-term on the job and usually lasts several weeks[17].
Are food preparation jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 3% from 2025 to 2035[5]. BLS still projects about 135,700 openings a year[6].
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Washington had the highest median annual wage at $40,910[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in the US was $35,320 per year and $16.98 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Food Preparation Workers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Food Preparation Workers: 10th percentile $25,810, 25th percentile $29,950, 75th percentile $38,550, 90th percentile $45,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Food Preparation Workers is projected to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 908,500 to 881,300 jobs (a change of -27,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 135,700 openings for Food Preparation Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Food Preparation Workers was $35,290 per year and $16.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Food Preparation Workers: 10th percentile $12.41, 25th percentile $14.40, 75th percentile $18.53, 90th percentile $21.80. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 893,600 people were employed as Food Preparation Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Food Preparation Workers jobs: California 112,750; Texas 81,280; Florida 73,100; New York 62,380; Illinois 34,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $46,680; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,580; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $43,830; Napa, CA $42,810; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $42,640; Yakima, WA $41,750; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,000; Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $40,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Food Preparation Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 63,530 (median $35,670); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 44,930 (median $39,770); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 27,100 (median $35,410); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 21,700 (median $30,740); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 19,630 (median $36,090); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 17,060 (median $36,090). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 35-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cook, Cook Aide, Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk), Diet Aide, Dietary Aide, Food Prep (Food Preparer), Food Service Aide, Food Service Worker (FSW). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET description of Food Preparation Workers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Food Preparation Workers. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food preparation workers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 55%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Food Preparation Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Food Preparation Workers: 7.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.