Food Preparation Worker salary in New York
Food Preparation Workers in New York earn a median of $35,610 a year ($17.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 62,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,320. New York ranks 18th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 6.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| 75th percentile | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Average (mean) | $38,310 | $18.42 |
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 | $2,967.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,483.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,369.62 |
| Weekly | $684.81 |
| Hourly | $17.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $36,260 | 1,890 |
| Ithaca, NY | $36,140 | 280 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,670 | 63,530 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $35,550 | 1,660 |
| Binghamton, NY | $35,370 | 550 |
| Kingston, NY | $35,130 | 370 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,020 | 2,870 |
| Syracuse, NY | $35,020 | 1,520 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,700 | 3,290 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $34,200 | 300 |
| Elmira, NY | $34,010 | 160 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,250 | 760 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $32,390 | 210 |
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 |
Related jobs in New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Cooks, Private Household | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Bartender | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 | $18.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for food preparation workers in New York is $35,610 a year, or $17.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in New York?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in New York earn at least $46,800 a year. The top 25% earn $40,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,280 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $34,320 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in New York?
About 62,380 food preparation workers are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.