Food Preparation Worker Salary in Utica, NY
Food Preparation Workers in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area earn a median $33,250 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,698 take-home, or $2,308 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Utica, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,810
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,062
- Medicare (1.45%)$482
- New York income tax$1,199
- Take-home pay$27,698
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Utica, 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) | $33,250 | $15.99 | $27,698 | $2,308 |
| 75th percentile | $35,830 | $17.23 | $29,632 | $2,469 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,860 | $20.13 | $34,151 | $2,846 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,250 buys in Utica, NY
Prices in Utica, NY are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 34% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,698 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,886 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 Utica, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Utica, NY ranks #109 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 |
| 109 | Utica, NY | $33,250 | $27,698 | $29,886 |
*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
- Syracuse, NY — $35,020
- Albany, NY — $36,260
- Buffalo, NY — $34,700
- Rochester, NY — $35,020
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $35,550
- New York, NY — $35,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Utica, NY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area is $33,250 a year, or about $15.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,240 and $35,830.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Utica, NY?
On the median $33,250 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $27,698 a year ($2,308 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,199 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Utica, NY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,886 would in a typical U.S. city. Utica, NY ranks #109 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Utica, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Utica, NY is $926 a month ($1,172 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Utica, NY
- Waiter and Waitress — $45,950
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,960
- Bartender — $38,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,150
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,730
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,080