How much does a food preparation worker make in Trenton?
$35,950a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area. That is $17.28 an hour or $2,996 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.28
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 90 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,220Median: $35,950Highest 10%: $45,850
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | $15.49 | |
| 25th | $33,970 | $16.33 | |
| Median | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 75th | $38,110 | $18.32 | |
| 90th | $45,850 | $22.04 |
Other cities in New Jersey
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Atlantic City, NJ | $35,810 |
| New York, NY | $35,670 |
| Vineland, NJ | $35,240 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $34,560 |
| Allentown, PA | $33,430 |
Related jobs in Trenton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,850 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $43,350 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| Bartender | $38,800 |
| Cook | $38,400 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,070 |
| Cook | $35,920 |
| Food Server | $35,740 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Trenton?
The median hourly pay in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $17.28 ($35,950 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Trenton than the national average?
Yes: $35,950 against $35,320 nationally, 2% more.
How does Trenton compare with the rest of New Jersey?
The median in New Jersey is $35,540, so Trenton pays 1% more.
Where does Trenton rank for food preparation worker pay?
90 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,220 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,850 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.