Food Preparation Worker Salary in Worcester, MA
Food Preparation Workers in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $36,550 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,940 take-home, or $2,495 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,206
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,266
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Massachusetts income tax$1,608
- Take-home pay$29,940
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,990 | $15.38 | $26,504 | $2,209 |
| 25th percentile | $34,990 | $16.82 | $28,765 | $2,397 |
| Median (50th) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $29,940 | $2,495 |
| 75th percentile | $41,490 | $19.95 | $33,663 | $2,805 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,400 | $22.79 | $38,116 | $3,176 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,550 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,940 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,204 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 Worcester, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #134 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 |
| 134 | Worcester, MA | $36,550 | $29,940 | $29,204 |
*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
- Springfield, MA — $36,020
- Boston, MA — $39,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Worcester, MA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $36,550 a year, or about $17.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,990 and $41,490.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $36,550 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $29,940 a year ($2,495 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,608 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,204 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #134 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,620
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,840
- Dishwasher — $36,660
- Bartender — $35,950
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,870
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,790
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,610
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,620