How much does a food preparation worker make in New York?
$35,670a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area. That is $17.15 an hour or $2,973 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.15
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 98 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 63,530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,080Median: $35,670Highest 10%: $47,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,080 | $16.38 | |
| 25th | $34,330 | $16.50 | |
| Median | $35,670 | $17.15 | |
| 75th | $41,600 | $20.00 | |
| 90th | $47,650 | $22.91 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Albany, NY | $36,260 |
| Ithaca, NY | $36,140 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $35,550 |
| Binghamton, NY | $35,370 |
| Kingston, NY | $35,130 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,020 |
| Syracuse, NY | $35,020 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,700 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $34,200 |
| Elmira, NY | $34,010 |
| Utica, NY | $33,250 |
| Watertown, NY | $32,390 |
Related jobs in New York
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $71,780 |
| Bartender | $61,220 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,690 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $47,610 |
| Cook | $46,870 |
| Cook | $43,740 |
| Cook | $42,630 |
| Food Server | $39,120 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $36,980 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in New York?
The median hourly pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $17.15 ($35,670 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in New York than the national average?
Yes: $35,670 against $35,320 nationally, 1% more.
How does New York compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $35,610, so New York pays 0% more.
Where does New York rank for food preparation worker pay?
98 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,650 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.