Prepared Food Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Prepared Food Lead make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Prepared Food Lead in the United States is $58,017 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Prepared Food Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,335
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,646 to $65,512
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,845
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View as table View as graph 25% $51,646 10% $45,845 90% $72,335 75% $65,512 $58,017 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Prepared Food Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $65,512 $5,459 $1,260 $31
Average $58,017 $4,835 $1,116 $28
25th Percentile $51,646 $4,304 $993 $25
Check out Prepared Food Lead Job Openings in the United States
Food Service Lead

Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Food Service Worker Lead

Aramark - Columbus, OH

FOOD RUNNER

DEARINIS TAVERN & GRILL - CEMENTOS INC - Columbus, OH

Food Runner

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Columbus, OH

Search More Prepared Food Lead Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Prepared Food Lead Salaries

A Prepared Food Lead's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Prepared Food Lead Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Prepared Food Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $64,236.
  • California: $63,993.
  • Massachusetts: $63,140.

Top Paying Cities for Prepared Food Leads

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $73,177
  • San Francisco: $72,376
  • Oakland: $70,850

What Skills Can Increase a Prepared Food Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.4% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
  • Catering (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.4%
Service Quality 2.08%
Catering 1.18%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Prepared Food Lead's salary.
  • Security Policy: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Motivating: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Security Policy
$66,139
14%
Motivating
$62,658
8%
Organizing
$62,078
7%
Interviewing
$62,078
7%
Catering
$62,078
7%
Planning
$61,498
6%
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How Education impacts a Prepared Food Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Prepared Food Leads enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Prepared Food Lead with a No Diploma is between $55,093 and $58,234).

Prepared Food Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Prepared Food Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 35.0%
Associates 18.1%
Bachelors 40.7%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.2%
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Prepared Food Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Prepared Food Lead's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Prepared Food Lead

Salaries for a Prepared Food Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $47,009 in 2023 to around $47,453 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Prepared Food Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Prepared Food Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$47,009
2024
$47,670
2025
$47,453
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $47,009
2024 $47,670
2025 $47,453
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Prepared Food Lead

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Prepared Food Lead

Here are companies hiring for Prepared Food Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Prepared Food Lead Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Prepared Food Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • The Capital Grille

    Columbus, OH

    The Capital Grille | Columbus, OH

    We Wine. We Dine. We Build Careers. $5.50 per hour plus tips. We cordially invite you to apply. Joining our team provides exceptionally distinctive benefit... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Landry's

    Columbus, OH

    Landry's | Columbus, OH

    Landry's - 1323 - Mitchell's Steakhouse - Columbus Polaris Parkway - Responsibilities: Deliver food to tables promptly to ensure guest satisfaction more

    3 Days Ago

  • AVI Foodsystems

    Columbus, OH

    AVI Foodsystems | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. AVI Foodsystems is looking for an energetic and optimistic team member to fill the role of. Food Packer. This is a part-t... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Littleton's Market

    Columbus, OH

    Littleton's Market | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k). Competitive salary. Employee discounts. Opportunity for advancement. Paid time off. Job Summary. We are... more

    1 Day Ago

  • SSA Attractions Group

    Columbus, OH

    SSA Attractions Group | Columbus, OH

    SSA Attractions Group - 333 West Broad Street - Responsibilities: Prepare a variety of ingredients including washing, chopping, seasoning, and marinating. ... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Healthcare Services Group, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Overview. Role: Food Service Director / Dining Services Director. Join Healthcare Services Group (HCSG) as a Food Service... more

    2 Days Ago

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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