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Food Preparer Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Food Preparers Job Overview

Food preparers work under the direction of chefs and do the repetitive and regular work of making cold items, salads, dicing and slicing vegetables and make the initial preparations for the cooking of elaborate dishes.

Food Preparers Schools and Degrees

A high school diploma will generally suffice in order to become a food preparer. However, vocational courses and higher degrees always help in the advancement of one’s career.

Job Requirements

Training is a very important requirement for a food preparer. The process begins with learning about workplace safety and cleanliness, and goes on to the details of handling and preparing food. Those who become adept at these basics and show an inclination towards learning the more difficult procedures of cooking may advance to supervisory positions in cooking.

The American Culinary Federation offers various certifications. The standards for these certifications are largely dependent on the experience and formal training level of the candidate. These certifications may have an impact on career advancement and lead to more higher paid positions.

Food preparers need to be able to work as a part of a team, along with being efficient and quick in their jobs. They need to be able to chop, dice, slice and grind vegetables and meat. In addition, a fine sense of smell and taste and creativity can help them excel in their jobs. Personal cleanliness is particularly important, and in many states, food preparers are required to have a certificate testifying that they have no communicable disease.

Nature of Work

Food preparers evaluate and weigh the ingredients required for cooking. They make sauces and even stir and strain soups. After the cooking is done, they clean dishes, utensils and the surrounding work area.

The conditions of work for a food preparer depends greatly on the local laws that regulate the operations of food services. It also depends on the type and quantity of food being prepared. Their job requires them to stand and work for long hours as they are involved in the entire process of food preparation, right from the initial stage of getting the ingredients ready to the final stage of cleaning after the cooking has been done. Food preparers are also susceptible to the hazards of burns and cuts as they have to work with knives, scissors, ovens and burners.

Food Preparers Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, food preparers held about 902,000 jobs in the US. This figure is estimated to grow by fifteen percent in the next ten years. The median annual wage of food preparers is around $17,410.

Job Numbers and Growth

About 902,000 food preparers are employed nationally. Workers can expect a very high level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2008, 8% of employees could not find jobs.

Area Job Conditions

Popular locations for food preparers include Missoula (Montana), Alexandria (Louisiana), and New Orleans (Louisiana). Fewer are found in Killeen (Texas), Dalton (Georgia), and Amarillo (Texas).

Workers looking for high salaries should look at Anchorage (Alaska), State College (Pennsylvania), and Las Vegas (Nevada), and should avoid Lafayette (Louisiana), El Paso (Texas), and Wichita Falls (Texas).

Training and Education

Employees often obtain short-term on-the-job training before starting. The percentage of food preparers with college degrees is 7%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 19% of the total. Some employees, about 74%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time food preparers are 45% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 1%, work for themselves.

Food Preparers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$16,000360+35%
Auburn$16,000250-1%
Birmingham$18,0002,590-23%
Decatur$16,000440+42%
Dothan$17,000370+7%
Florence$16,000380+31%
Gadsden$15,000210+14%
Huntsville$16,0001,070-18%
Mobile$16,0001,290+12%
Montgomery$17,0001,400+31%
Tuscaloosa$16,000540+1%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$28,0001,210+21%
Fairbanks$24,000160-10%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$18,000470+49%
Kingman$22,000430+48%
Phoenix$22,00010,360-15%
Prescott$20,000720+100%
Tucson$22,0002,450+3%
Yuma$19,000260-26%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$17,0001,170-6%
Fort Smith$17,000670-7%
Hot Springs$19,000460+126%
Jonesboro$18,000310+11%
Little Rock$18,0002,300+5%
Pine Bluff$16,000210+16%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$19,0001,930+14%
Chico$20,000530+30%
El Centro$20,0002900%
Fresno$19,0002,090-2%
Hanford$21,000190+22%
Madera$21,000300+50%
Merced$19,000440+34%
Modesto$22,0001,050+2%
Napa$23,000560+50%
Oakland$22,0007,030+4%
Oxnard$21,0001,870-2%
Redding$21,000290-25%
Riverside$21,0007,140-15%
Sacramento$22,0005,430-6%
Salinas$21,0001,560+63%
San Diego$21,00010,510+20%
San Francisco$24,0007,130+9%
San Jose$21,0006,270+4%
San Luis Obispo$21,0001,050+75%
Santa Ana$21,0009,670-3%
Santa Barbara$21,0001,750+67%
Santa Cruz$22,000640+22%
Santa Rosa$23,0001,530+33%
Stockton$22,0001,550+15%
Vallejo$20,000820+10%
Visalia$20,000980+18%
Yuba City$19,000120-44%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$21,000920-8%
Colorado Springs$21,0001,340-16%
Denver$21,0005,600-32%
Fort Collins$20,000980+33%
Grand Junction$20,000460+41%
Greeley$19,000590+34%
Pueblo$20,000470+53%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$23,0003,560+26%
Danbury$23,000480+15%
Hartford$23,0004,630+23%
New Haven$24,0002,690+51%
Norwich$23,0001,540+102%
Waterbury$22,000720+80%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$20,000360+15%
Wilmington$21,0001,200-43%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$22,00010,710-29%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$20,0002,100+59%
Deltona$18,0001,420+47%
Fort Lauderdale$20,0003,900-18%
Fort Walton Beach$19,000400-10%
Gainesville$18,000630-10%
Jacksonville$18,0004,430+13%
Lakeland$20,000840-31%
Miami$20,0005,620-13%
Naples$21,0001,500+104%
Ocala$19,000640+13%
Orlando$20,0006,720-2%
Palm Bay$21,0001,720+39%
Palm Coast$18,000150+126%
Panama City$18,000490+22%
Pensacola$19,000800-13%
Port St Lucie$19,000750-3%
Punta Gorda$21,000420+92%
Sarasota$20,0002,550+53%
Sebastian$20,000470+73%
Tallahassee$19,000820-19%
Tampa$20,0006,920-13%
West Palm Beach$21,0003,830+10%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$16,000250-29%
Athens$19,000520+17%
Atlanta$20,00011,800-24%
Augusta$18,000890-31%
Brunswick$20,000150-37%
Columbus$18,000630-5%
Dalton$18,000130-71%
Hinesville$19,00030-53%
Macon$18,000490-18%
Rome$16,000350+75%
Savannah$21,000950+2%
Valdosta$18,000180-44%
Warner Robins$18,000620+120%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$20,0004,820+71%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$20,0001,210-29%
Coeur Dalene$19,000590+88%
Idaho Falls$19,000360+35%
Lewiston$20,000160+34%
Pocatello$20,00070-57%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$18,000620+50%
Champaign$21,000800+42%
Chicago$20,00032,880+31%
Danville$19,000140+3%
Decatur$20,000380+44%
Kankakee$19,000380+83%
Peoria$18,0001,510+42%
Rockford$18,000990+5%
Springfield$19,000810+30%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$18,000400+81%
Bloomington$18,000570+42%
Columbus$17,000240+1%
Elkhart$19,000640-19%
Evansville$18,000640-41%
Fort Wayne$18,0001,070-20%
Gary$19,0002,190+23%
Indianapolis$20,0005,620-4%
Kokomo$18,000340+75%
Lafayette$19,000310-31%
Michigan City$19,000370+54%
Muncie$17,000600+135%
South Bend$18,0001,310+56%
Terre Haute$19,000640+57%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$18,000530+153%
Cedar Rapids$19,000800-3%
Davenport$19,0001,180+3%
Des Moines$20,0001,560-26%
Dubuque$19,000400+37%
Iowa City$22,000440+4%
Sioux City$18,000500+20%
Waterloo$18,000330-35%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$17,000540+113%
Topeka$18,000960+43%
Wichita$18,0001,570-20%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$20,000230-30%
Elizabethtown$17,000140-42%
Lexington$20,000970-37%
Louisville$20,0003,370-16%
Owensboro$16,000310+14%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$16,0001,070+210%
Baton Rouge$16,0005,460+130%
Houma$17,0001,350+137%
Lafayette$15,0002,590+189%
Lake Charles$16,0001,430+177%
Monroe$16,000920+99%
New Orleans$17,00010,110+206%
Shreveport$16,0002,050+87%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$22,000510+37%
Lewiston$21,000490+76%
Portland$21,0001,840+44%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$20,0006,730-21%
Bethesda$21,0003,540-5%
Cumberland$18,000430+121%
Hagerstown$19,0001,040+74%
Salisbury$19,000320+7%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$23,0001,190+96%
Boston$23,00012,520+11%
Brockton$22,000520-2%
Framingham$21,000810-20%
Haverhill$21,000690+51%
Lawrence$19,000720+119%
Leominster$21,000230-19%
Lowell$21,000800+8%
New Bedford$21,000440+17%
Pittsfield$21,000270+51%
Springfield$22,0002,100+10%
Taunton$22,000290+11%
Worcester$22,0001,610+2%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$22,0001,010-2%
Battle Creek$18,000540+96%
Bay City$19,000290+53%
Flint$20,0001,070+27%
Grand Rapids$20,0003,140+28%
Holland$19,000480-22%
Jackson$20,000590+99%
Kalamazoo$19,0001,140+36%
Lansing$21,0001,410+16%
Monroe$19,000220+1%
Muskegon$18,0001,000+187%
Niles$19,000480+34%
Saginaw$19,000690+53%
Warren$21,0009,050+20%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$22,000600-23%
Minneapolis$22,0005,390-54%
Rochester$23,000380-32%
St Cloud$20,000650+5%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$17,0001,580+139%
Hattiesburg$17,000800+145%
Jackson$16,0003,490+116%
Pascagoula$16,000760+187%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$19,000440-10%
Jefferson City$17,000180-55%
Joplin$18,000270-43%
Kansas City$20,0005,490-18%
Springfield$18,000730-41%
St Joseph$18,000130-54%
St Louis$19,0005,760-35%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$20,000460-4%
Great Falls$18,000240+28%
Missoula$15,0001,300+341%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$18,000970-5%
Omaha$19,0002,610-13%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Carson City$21,000130-10%
Las Vegas$25,0006,270+4%
Reno$19,0001,380+5%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$19,000580-9%
Nashua$20,000600-30%
Portsmouth$23,000240-26%
Rochester$20,000300-8%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$22,0001,240+35%
Camden$22,0002,650-23%
Edison$22,0005,290-22%
Newark$22,0005,010-24%
Ocean City$21,000330+43%
Trenton$21,000970-28%
Vineland$20,000220-33%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$19,0001,630-35%
Farmington$16,000180-40%
Las Cruces$19,000310-13%
Santa Fe$22,000400+9%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$20,0004,160+47%
Binghamton$19,0001,110+72%
Buffalo$19,0006,050+73%
Elmira$19,000530+175%
Glens Falls$20,000740+147%
Ithaca$21,000640+171%
Kingston$20,000860+151%
Nassau$23,00012,580+53%
New York$23,00048,630+45%
Poughkeepsie$21,0002,710+79%
Rochester$19,0005,400+66%
Syracuse$20,0002,760+39%
Utica$19,0001,730+121%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$18,0001,330+19%
Burlington$18,000400+18%
Charlotte$18,0006,650+15%
Durham$18,0002,200+26%
Fayetteville$18,000890+19%
Goldsboro$18,000410+98%
Greensboro$17,0002,760+15%
Greenville$17,000650+55%
Hickory$19,0001,280+26%
Jacksonville$17,000450+100%
Raleigh$19,0003,670+11%
Rocky Mount$16,000440+31%
Wilmington$18,0001,620+81%
Winston Salem$18,0001,300-4%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$20,000400+24%
Fargo$19,000610-14%
Grand Forks$21,000240-12%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$20,0002,180+1%
Canton$18,0001,110+2%
Cincinnati$20,0005,750-15%
Cleveland$20,0005,210-25%
Columbus$20,0005,670-7%
Dayton$19,0002,650+5%
Lima$19,000170-43%
Mansfield$19,000340+15%
Sandusky$19,000160-17%
Springfield$19,000460+73%
Toledo$19,0001,750-13%
Youngstown$19,0001,600+8%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$15,000150-26%
Oklahoma City$17,0003,270-11%
Tulsa$16,0001,910-32%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$22,000470+17%
Corvallis$20,000430+158%
Eugene$20,0001,340+45%
Medford$21,000540+8%
Portland$22,0006,280-7%
Salem$22,0001,130+21%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$21,0001,680-23%
Altoona$18,000430+25%
Erie$20,000800+4%
Harrisburg$20,0002,010-1%
Johnstown$18,000380+17%
Lancaster$20,0001,820+22%
Lebanon$18,000360+39%
Philadelphia$21,00011,310-8%
Pittsburgh$20,0005,930-20%
Reading$19,000840-18%
Scranton$20,0001,530-7%
State College$25,000590+83%
Williamsport$19,000200-30%
York$19,0001,240+10%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$21,0004,630+26%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$17,000480+38%
Charleston$17,0002,430+30%
Columbia$16,0003,500+55%
Florence$19,000490-2%
Greenville$17,0001,590-18%
Myrtle Beach$18,0001,470+103%
Spartanburg$19,000890+18%
Sumter$17,000340+79%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$17,000500+38%
Sioux Falls$19,0001,160+36%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$17,0001,720+16%
Clarksville$16,000490+11%
Cleveland$16,000290+50%
Jackson$20,000190-42%
Johnson City$19,000500+14%
Kingsport$18,000850+22%
Knoxville$20,0001,870-13%
Memphis$18,0004,050+0%
Morristown$18,000190-28%
Nashville$19,0005,420+9%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$16,000340-5%
Amarillo$18,000170-72%
Austin$18,0001,960-61%
Beaumont$17,000670-31%
Brownsville$16,000310-59%
College Station$16,000410-10%
Corpus Christi$19,000470-57%
Dallas$17,0005,740-58%
El Paso$15,000890-47%
Fort Worth$17,0002,430-57%
Houston$18,0006,480-62%
Killeen$16,000230-68%
Laredo$18,000470-4%
Longview$16,000280-50%
Lubbock$18,000570-23%
Mcallen$16,000600-57%
Midland$15,000220-43%
Odessa$18,000170-47%
San Angelo$17,000100-55%
San Antonio$16,0005,350-3%
Sherman$17,000130-40%
Texarkana$17,000200-35%
Tyler$16,000310-43%
Victoria$16,000190-27%
Waco$17,000320-45%
Wichita Falls$15,000390+18%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Logan$16,000290+13%
Ogden$17,000720-43%
Provo$16,0001,870+81%
Salt Lake City$18,0002,060-49%
St George$18,000320+17%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$21,000590-12%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$18,000310-12%
Charlottesville$21,000440-21%
Danville$18,000110-42%
Harrisonburg$21,000260-16%
Lynchburg$18,000300-50%
Richmond$19,0002,300-41%
Roanoke$19,0001,110+13%
Virginia Beach$20,0002,850-42%
Winchester$19,000280-6%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$22,000510+8%
Bremerton$24,000340-31%
Kennewick$22,000340-36%
Longview$21,000210+19%
Mount Vernon$22,000350+40%
Olympia$22,000400-29%
Seattle$24,0006,710-29%
Spokane$21,000990-25%
Tacoma$23,0001,230-28%
Wenatchee$21,000210-5%
Yakima$22,000530+12%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$18,000630-30%
Huntington$17,000800+16%
Morgantown$19,000430+65%
Parkersburg$17,000340-16%
Weirton$18,000260+12%
Wheeling$18,000450+23%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$18,000580-16%
Eau Claire$21,000670+48%
Fond$19,000260+6%
Green Bay$20,000600-42%
Janesville$20,000190-50%
La Crosse$19,000270-33%
Madison$20,0001,630-24%
Milwaukee$20,0003,450-38%
Oshkosh$20,000310-38%
Racine$19,000290-36%
Sheboygan$18,000200-39%
Wausau$18,000210-46%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$19,000340+63%
Cheyenne$19,000350+46%

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