Food Preparation Worker Salary in Boston, MA
Food Preparation Workers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $39,660 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,284 take-home, or $2,690 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,579
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,459
- Medicare (1.45%)$575
- Massachusetts income tax$1,763
- Take-home pay$32,284
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,760 | $16.71 | $28,592 | $2,383 |
| 25th percentile | $36,570 | $17.58 | $29,955 | $2,496 |
| Median (50th) | $39,660 | $19.07 | $32,284 | $2,690 |
| 75th percentile | $45,430 | $21.84 | $36,632 | $3,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,450 | $23.29 | $38,907 | $3,242 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,660 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,284 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,819 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #29 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 29 | Boston, MA | $39,660 | $32,284 | $29,819 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Boston, MA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $39,660 a year, or about $19.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,570 and $45,430.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $39,660 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $32,284 a year ($2,690 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,763 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,819 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #29 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 85% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780