Food Preparation Worker Salary in New York, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $35,670 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,512 take-home, or $2,459 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,212
- Medicare (1.45%)$517
- New York income tax$1,329
- Take-home pay$29,512
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $960 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,551 ($2,379 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,080 | $16.38 | $28,320 | $2,360 |
| 25th percentile | $34,330 | $16.50 | $28,507 | $2,376 |
| Median (50th) | $35,670 | $17.15 | $29,512 | $2,459 |
| 75th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 | $33,956 | $2,830 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,650 | $22.91 | $38,491 | $3,208 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,670 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,512 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,218 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #58 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 |
| 58 | New York, NY | $35,670 | $29,512 | $26,218 |
*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
- Buffalo, NY — $34,700
- Rochester, NY — $35,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in New York, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $35,670 a year, or about $17.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,330 and $41,600.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $35,670 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,512 a year ($2,459 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,329 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,218 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #58 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 97% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $71,780
- Bartender — $61,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,690
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,120
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,980
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,500
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,780
- Dishwasher — $35,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,420