Prevailing Wage for Food Preparation Workers
Prevailing wage for Food Preparation Workers under SOC 35-2021 is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for a Cook, Diet Aide, or Cook Aide, the floor you must clear depends on your experience level. DOL assigns four levels, and the required minimum shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level food prep workers with limited experience, typically in their first role slicing, portioning, or assembling cold foods under close supervision. No independent judgment is expected, and formal culinary credentials are not required.
Level 2 applies to workers with some practical experience handling a broader range of preparation tasks with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Food Preparation Workers, reflecting roles where basic proficiency is established but full autonomy is not yet expected.
Level 3 covers experienced workers who handle complex prep duties with minimal oversight, often cross-trained across stations. They may informally guide newer staff and are trusted to maintain food safety standards and output quality without step-by-step direction.
Level 4 applies to fully competent workers who lead prep operations, set quality benchmarks, and may coordinate a team. These workers exercise independent judgment on portioning, production scheduling, and kitchen workflow, often in high-volume or specialized food service settings.
Prevailing Wage for Food Preparation Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Food Preparation Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which prep tasks define your level
Food prep filings often use Level 1 or Level 2 regardless of actual task complexity. If your role includes shellfish handling, deli counter management, or cold-line production lead duties, the work scope may support a higher level and a higher wage floor.
Watch how hourly pay annualizes against the floor
Food Preparation Workers are almost always paid hourly. Confirm your employer annualized your rate at 2,080 hours. Scheduled breaks, variable hours, or tip credits can push the effective annual figure below the prevailing wage floor without appearing to on paper.
Target high-wage metros where prep roles pay significantly more
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies widely by location. Metros like San Jose, Napa, and Boulder carry substantially higher floors than the national median, which signals stronger employer competition for experienced prep workers and better wage compliance headroom.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who sponsor prep roles
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Food Preparation Workers for H-1B or other visas. Filtering by role and location helps you identify food service operations and hospitality groups with an active sponsorship track record before you apply.
Jobs for Food Preparation Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Food Preparation WorkersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-2021.00 alongside Food Preparation Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cook Prevailing Wage
Cook Prevailing Wage
Cook positions fall under SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cook Aide Prevailing Wage
Cook Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cook Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) Prevailing Wage
Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) Prevailing Wage
Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Diet Aide Prevailing Wage
Diet Aide Prevailing Wage
Diet Aide positions fall under SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dietary Aide Prevailing Wage
Dietary Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dietary Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Food Prep (Food Preparer) Prevailing Wage
Food Prep (Food Preparer) Prevailing Wage
Food Prep (Food Preparer) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Food Service Aide Prevailing Wage
Food Service Aide Prevailing Wage
Food Service Aide positions fall under SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Food Service Worker (FSW) Prevailing Wage
Food Service Worker (FSW) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Food Service Worker (FSW) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Line Cook Prevailing Wage
Line Cook Prevailing Wage
Line Cook is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Nutrition Aide Prevailing Wage
Nutrition Aide Prevailing Wage
Nutrition Aide positions fall under SOC 35-2021.00 (Food Preparation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Food Preparation Workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For Food Preparation Workers under SOC 35-2021, it calculates four wage levels based on experience and skill. Employers sponsoring a worker through H-1B or PERM must pay at or above the level that matches the job duties.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision and limited task scope. Level 2 reflects moderate experience and some independence. Level 3 covers workers handling complex prep with minimal direction. Level 4 applies to those leading operations or coordinating a team. DOL and OFLC expect the level to match the actual duties in the job description, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using regional OES surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage floor based on local employer pay data. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's floor applies, not the employer's headquarters. Areas with high costs of living or dense hospitality industries, such as coastal California metros, generate significantly higher floors than rural or territory markets like Puerto Rico.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully file an LCA or petition with USCIS if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. If OFLC detects a discrepancy during certification or audit, it can deny or revoke the LCA. Workers already employed under a certified LCA that later underpays them may be owed back wages under DOL enforcement.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Food Preparation Workers at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage by SOC code 35-2021 and the metropolitan area closest to your worksite. Select the appropriate wage level based on your experience. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers with a history of sponsoring this occupation so you can compare their posted salaries against the floor before applying.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Food Preparation Workers right now.
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