Food Preparation Worker salary in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
Food Preparation Workers in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area earn a median of $35,810 a year ($17.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,570 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 1% higher than the New Jersey statewide median of $35,540. There are 8.0 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| Median | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| 75th percentile | $41,990 | $20.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Average (mean) | $37,770 | $18.16 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,984.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,492.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,377.31 |
| Weekly | $688.65 |
| Hourly | $17.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,950 | 1,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,670 | 63,530 |
| Vineland, NJ | $35,240 | 370 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,560 | 10,780 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $33,430 | 1,360 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,400 | $16.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,270 | $16.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Bartender | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,000 | $16.35 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $75,740 | $36.41 |
| Dishwasher | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $41,180 | $19.80 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area is $35,810 a year, or $17.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area earn at least $44,570 a year. The top 25% earn $41,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $33,540 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ?
About 1,340 food preparation workers are employed in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.