Food Preparation Worker Salary in Rochester, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $35,020 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,024 take-home, or $2,419 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,022
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,171
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- New York income tax$1,294
- Take-home pay$29,024
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| Median (50th) | $35,020 | $16.84 | $29,024 | $2,419 |
| 75th percentile | $37,690 | $18.12 | $31,026 | $2,585 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,720 | $21.50 | $36,295 | $3,025 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,020 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,024 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,911 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 Rochester, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Rochester, NY | $35,020 | $29,024 | $29,911 |
*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
- New York, NY — $35,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Rochester, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $35,020 a year, or about $16.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,240 and $37,690.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $35,020 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,024 a year ($2,419 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,294 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,911 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #27 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
- Waiter and Waitress — $45,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,040
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,430