Where is Preferred Meals located?

Preferred Meals is headquartered in Berkeley, Illinois, but may have operations in other locations within the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sector.

What does Preferred Meals do?

According to the company's overview, Preferred Meals is a company that operates in the Restaurants industry.

What industry is Preferred Meals in?

Preferred Meals operates in the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry.

Preferred Meals Average Salary, Pay Ranges & Benefits

Preferred Meals Salary

Yearly Salary Hourly Rate Monthly Salary Weekly Salary

Find Out My True Value Get Salary AI Insights

Salary at Preferred Meals

Current Job Openings at Preferred Meals

Ready for your next career move? Explore current job openings at Preferred Meals. Use the search tool below to find available positions by title and location and apply directly to start your career.

Is Preferred Meals’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does Preferred Meals's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.

Competitor / Benchmark	Avg. Salary	Variance	Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
SASMI Forms	$98,835	-6.9%	Normalized for lower cost-of-living zones where SASMI Forms primarily operates.
United States of America through Commodity Credit Corporation, Crawford County FSA Office	$87,411	-17.7%	United States of America through Commodity Credit Corporation, Crawford County FSA Office likely leverages performance bonuses over the high base salary shown here.
San Joaquin Valley	$98,729	-7.0%	Reflects market rates for standard general contracting, differing from specialized roles.
The Purdue Polytechnic Institute	$94,732	-10.8%	The Purdue Polytechnic Institute focuses strategically on recruiting and training entry-level apprentices.
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit Industry	$115,341	+8.6%	Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.

Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

How Preferred Meals's Salaries Compare to Similar Companies?

Explore companies in the same industry to compare average salaries, benefits, and career opportunities with those at Preferred Meals. Click a company name to learn more.

SASMI Forms

$98,835 / year

Salary Range: $86,375 - $113,159

Carol Stream, IL

United States of America through Commodity Credit Corporation, Crawford County FSA Office

$87,411 / year

Salary Range: $76,378 - $100,100

Meadville, PA

San Joaquin Valley

$98,729 / year

Salary Range: $86,265 - $113,086

Fresno, CA

The Purdue Polytechnic Institute

$94,732 / year

Salary Range: $82,774 - $108,501

West Lafayette, IN

Fallbrook Union School District

$107,885 / year

Salary Range: $94,256 - $123,561

Fallbrook, CA

Northeastern University MS Telecommunications

$111,039 / year

Salary Range: $97,014 - $127,170

Boston, MA

Northeastern University Police

$111,007 / year

Salary Range: $96,987 - $127,134

Boston, MA

School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation | University of Maryland

$110,554 / year

Salary Range: $96,584 - $126,609

College Park, MD

Mississippi State University-Department Of Communication

$83,044 / year

Salary Range: $72,557 - $95,112

Mississippi State University, MS

Employee Reviews: Working at Preferred Meals

Considering a career at Preferred Meals? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.

No penalties. This shared commitment builds a strong, positive organizational culture and motivates us to perform our best daily. The culture is inclusive, respectful, and highly collaborative, encouraging creativity and innovation. Staff are courteous, though processes can feel rigid.

Commented in April 03, 2025

48

0

Excellent work-life balance and predictable hours with supportive colleagues. Always organized, helpful, and clear in communication. This role provides predictable hours and job security, but creativity is limited.

Commented in December 24, 2024

41

1

Change happens, but at a measured pace. If you're motivated by service and want your work to matter, this is a place where you’ll find fulfillment and support. Management encourages professional development, and coworkers are reliable. Workload is manageable but occasionally unevenly distributed across teams. Efficient policy support. Grant management experts. Leadership varies depending on the ma...

Commented in December 18, 2024

25

0

Collaboration occurs, but departmental silos sometimes hinder cross-team communication. Training programs are offered but may lack relevance for some roles. They do great work. Customized training. Leadership communicates openly and supports innovation.

Commented in May 10, 2024

41

3

Employee recognition programs are meaningful and frequent. It transcends individual tasks and connects all employees to a larger, more significant purpose. Work is steady, and communication is regular.

Commented in January 28, 2024

45

0

What Benefits Does Preferred Meals Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. Preferred Meals offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:

Social Security

401(K)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

Work at Preferred Meals?

Share your experience

How Much Should You Be Earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options.

Get estimated pay range See more details

What Is the Cost of Living Near Chicago?

Understanding the cost of living near Chicago is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at Preferred Meals.

Chicago's Cost of Living Index is approximately 106.9 (6.9% more expensive than US average; 14.0% more than IL average). Major US city, housing varies greatly by neighborhood but can be high, extensive CTA transit. When planning your budget based on a salary from Preferred Meals, consider these typical monthly expenses:

Expense Category	Estimated Monthly Cost	Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent)	$1,700 - $2,600+	A significant portion of Preferred Meals salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic)	$140 - $230	Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation	$105 (CTA 30-day pass)	Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person)	$430 - $640	Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure	$450 - $800+	Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual)	$400 - $750+	Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes)	$3,225 - $5,025+	This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of Preferred Meals

1. How much does a Preferred Meals employee make?

Preferred Meals pays its employees an average of $106,187 per year. The average salary at Preferred Meals range from $92,781 to $121,622 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.

2. Which similar company tend to pay more or less than Preferred Meals?

The salary at Preferred Meals is higher than the similar company. The average annual salary at Preferred Meals is $106,187, or an hourly wage of $51, in comparison to SASMI Forms which pays $98,835 per year or $48 per hour.

3. Do employees with advanced degrees (Master's, PhD) earn more at Preferred Meals?

In many roles at Preferred Meals, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge or research capabilities (e.g., certain engineering, scientific, or financial roles), an advanced degree like a Master's or PhD can lead to a higher starting salary and faster career progression, thus higher earnings. However, for some roles, direct experience and skills might be valued as much or more than an advanced degree. The impact varies by field and specific job requirements.

4. How does the cost of living near Chicago affect the perceived value of a Preferred Meals salary?

Chicago's Cost of Living Index is approximately 106.9 (6.9% more expensive than US average; 14.0% more than IL average). This significantly impacts the purchasing power of a salary from Preferred Meals based there. Our "Cost of Living Insights for Chicago" module details this impact, helping you assess the 'real feel' value of your compensation.

5. What kind of benefits does Preferred Meals typically offer employees?

Preferred Meals generally offers a range of employee benefits designed to support their workforce's health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) retirement savings plan (often with a company match), paid time off (PTO), and potentially disability and life insurance are included. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at Preferred Meals" section on this page.