Food Preparation Worker Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Food Preparation Workers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $34,380 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,293 take-home, or $2,441 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,946
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,132
- Medicare (1.45%)$499
- New Mexico income tax$511
- Take-home pay$29,293
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,290 | $13.12 | $23,819 | $1,985 |
| 25th percentile | $29,500 | $14.18 | $25,548 | $2,129 |
| Median (50th) | $34,380 | $16.53 | $29,293 | $2,441 |
| 75th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 | $30,715 | $2,560 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,320 | $18.42 | $32,290 | $2,691 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,380 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,293 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,659 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 Albuquerque, NM as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $34,380 | $29,293 | $30,659 |
*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 Albuquerque, NM?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $34,380 a year, or about $16.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,500 and $36,250.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $34,380 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $29,293 a year ($2,441 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $511 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,659 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #18 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140