Food Preparation Worker Salary in Syracuse, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, 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
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Syracuse, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $32,810 | $15.77 | $27,368 | $2,281 |
| Median (50th) | $35,020 | $16.84 | $29,024 | $2,419 |
| 75th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 | $30,913 | $2,576 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,950 | $20.17 | $34,219 | $2,852 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,020 buys in Syracuse, NY
Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,024 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,315 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 Syracuse, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Syracuse, NY ranks #88 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 |
| 88 | Syracuse, NY | $35,020 | $29,024 | $30,315 |
*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
- Albany, NY — $36,260
- 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 Syracuse, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Syracuse, 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 $32,810 and $37,540.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, 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 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,315 would in a typical U.S. city. Syracuse, NY ranks #88 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Syracuse, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Syracuse, NY is $1,123 a month ($1,392 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Syracuse, NY
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,640
- Bartender — $46,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,830
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,450
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,770
- Cooks, Short Order — $36,190
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,540
- Dishwasher — $34,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,940
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,560