Food Preparation Worker Salary in Buffalo, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $34,700 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,785 take-home, or $2,399 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,984
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,151
- Medicare (1.45%)$503
- New York income tax$1,277
- Take-home pay$28,785
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| Median (50th) | $34,700 | $16.68 | $28,785 | $2,399 |
| 75th percentile | $37,190 | $17.88 | $30,651 | $2,554 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,020 | $19.24 | $32,772 | $2,731 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,700 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,033 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 about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Buffalo, NY | $34,700 | $28,785 | $30,033 |
*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.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in New York
- Rochester, NY — $35,020
- New York, NY — $35,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Buffalo, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $34,700 a year, or about $16.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,240 and $37,190.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $34,700 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $28,785 a year ($2,399 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,277 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,033 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #24 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Bartender — $46,920
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,560