Food Preparation Worker Salary in Providence, RI
Food Preparation Workers in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $36,250 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,564 take-home, or $2,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,170
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,248
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- Rhode Island income tax$743
- Take-home pay$30,564
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. 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 Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 25th percentile | $33,140 | $15.93 | $28,182 | $2,349 |
| Median (50th) | $36,250 | $17.43 | $30,564 | $2,547 |
| 75th percentile | $41,390 | $19.90 | $34,502 | $2,875 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,220 | $21.74 | $37,435 | $3,120 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,250 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,564 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,032 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 Providence, RI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Providence, RI ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Providence, RI | $36,250 | $30,564 | $30,032 |
*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 Providence, RI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $36,250 a year, or about $17.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,140 and $41,390.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $36,250 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $30,564 a year ($2,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $743 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,032 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #25 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Bartender — $35,680
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200