Food Preparation Worker Salary in Burlington, VT
Food Preparation Workers in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area earn a median $37,040 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,135 take-home, or $2,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Burlington, VT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,265
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,296
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- Vermont income tax$807
- Take-home pay$31,135
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.35% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Burlington, VT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,960 | $16.33 | $28,763 | $2,397 |
| 25th percentile | $36,340 | $17.47 | $30,596 | $2,550 |
| Median (50th) | $37,040 | $17.81 | $31,135 | $2,595 |
| 75th percentile | $45,260 | $21.76 | $37,464 | $3,122 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,080 | $24.56 | $41,945 | $3,495 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Vermont resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,040 buys in Burlington, VT
Prices in Burlington, VT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,135 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,842 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 Burlington, VT than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Burlington, VT ranks #68 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 |
| 68 | Burlington, VT | $37,040 | $31,135 | $30,842 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Burlington, VT?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area is $37,040 a year, or about $17.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,340 and $45,260.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Burlington, VT?
On the median $37,040 salary, a single filer living in Vermont takes home about $31,135 a year ($2,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $807 in Vermont taxes in 2026.
Is Burlington, VT a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,842 would in a typical U.S. city. Burlington, VT ranks #68 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Burlington, VT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Burlington, VT is $1,651 a month ($2,140 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Burlington, VT
- Waiter and Waitress — $61,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,440
- Bartender — $49,070
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,190
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,120