Food Preparation Worker Salary in Springfield, MA
Food Preparation Workers in the Springfield, MA metro area earn a median $36,020 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,541 take-home, or $2,462 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Springfield, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,142
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,233
- Medicare (1.45%)$522
- Massachusetts income tax$1,581
- Take-home pay$29,541
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Springfield, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,250 | $15.02 | $25,947 | $2,162 |
| 25th percentile | $34,040 | $16.37 | $28,049 | $2,337 |
| Median (50th) | $36,020 | $17.32 | $29,541 | $2,462 |
| 75th percentile | $41,020 | $19.72 | $33,309 | $2,776 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,380 | $23.26 | $38,854 | $3,238 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,020 buys in Springfield, MA
Prices in Springfield, MA are 3.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 24% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,541 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,752 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 Springfield, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Springfield, MA ranks #78 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 |
| 78 | Springfield, MA | $36,020 | $29,541 | $30,752 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Amherst Town, MA — $40,140
- Barnstable Town, MA — $38,660
- Boston, MA — $39,660
- Worcester, MA — $36,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Springfield, MA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Springfield, MA metro area is $36,020 a year, or about $17.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,040 and $41,020.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Springfield, MA?
On the median $36,020 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $29,541 a year ($2,462 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,581 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Springfield, MA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,752 would in a typical U.S. city. Springfield, MA ranks #78 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Springfield, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Springfield, MA is $1,382 a month ($1,734 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 Springfield, MA
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,440
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,970
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,170
- Bartender — $35,610
- Dishwasher — $35,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,130
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,250