Food Preparation Worker Salary in Albany, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median $36,260 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,954 take-home, or $2,496 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Albany, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,171
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,248
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- New York income tax$1,361
- Take-home pay$29,954
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Albany, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $33,730 | $16.22 | $28,058 | $2,338 |
| Median (50th) | $36,260 | $17.43 | $29,954 | $2,496 |
| 75th percentile | $39,620 | $19.05 | $32,472 | $2,706 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,010 | $21.64 | $36,512 | $3,043 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,260 buys in Albany, NY
Prices in Albany, NY are 0.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,954 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,084 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 Albany, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Albany, NY ranks #97 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 97 | Albany, NY | $36,260 | $29,954 | $30,084 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in New York
- Binghamton, NY — $35,370
- Syracuse, NY — $35,020
- Buffalo, NY — $34,700
- Rochester, NY — $35,020
- Utica, NY — $33,250
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $35,550
- New York, NY — $35,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Albany, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $36,260 a year, or about $17.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,730 and $39,620.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Albany, NY?
On the median $36,260 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,954 a year ($2,496 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,361 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Albany, NY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,084 would in a typical U.S. city. Albany, NY ranks #97 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Albany, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albany, NY is $1,417 a month ($1,702 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albany, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $84,430
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,980
- Bartender — $47,370
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $43,550
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,610
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,460
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,550
- Dishwasher — $34,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,560
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,060