EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $36,800 ($17.69/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,300/year and the 90th was $47,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New Jersey tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,178 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 112.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,800$17.69 per hour · $3,067 monthly
10th Percentile$33,300$16.01/hr base
25th Percentile$34,700$16.68/hr base
75th Percentile$39,800$19.13/hr base
90th Percentile$47,700$22.93/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $37,000 a year leaves after tax in New JerseyFederal tax, FICA and New Jersey withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $37,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $37,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation New Jersey publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about New Jersey.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,800
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,800
Net 85%
Fed 6%
NJ 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,178After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,598Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,199Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,236 / yr
New Jersey state income tax$571 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,815 / yr
Customize deductions in full New Jersey calculator

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NJ)
10th Percentile$16.01/hr$2,775$33,300$28,441
25th Percentile$16.68/hr$2,892$34,700$29,542
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.69/hr$3,067$36,800$31,178
75th Percentile$19.13/hr$3,317$39,800$33,484
90th Percentile$22.93/hr$3,975$47,700$39,419

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$99,155Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index112.612.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio37.1%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in New Jersey:

Compare markets

Food Preparation Workers pay in other New Jersey metros

These metro areas are in the same state and closest in population to New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Compare their wage distributions before using a statewide average.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $36,800, which equates to approximately $3,067 per month or $17.69 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $17.69 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.01/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.93/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ span from $33,300 at the 10th percentile to $34,700 at the 25th, $39,800 at the 75th, and $47,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

On a median gross salary of $36,800, an estimated $31,178 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,199 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New Jersey in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,622 (an effective rate of 15.3%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

On the median annual salary of $36,800, gross monthly income is $3,067. After federal, FICA, and New Jersey state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,598 per month (or $1,199 every two weeks).

Is $36,800 a good salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

At $36,800, the median salary for food preparation workers is 37.1% of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median household income ($99,155). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 112.6, making regional consumer goods and services 12.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.