EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Worcester, MA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Worcester, MA?

In the Worcester, MA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $36,550 a year ($17.57 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,390 of these jobs there. That is 37% below the $57,830 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $31,990 and $47,400; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Massachusetts tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $30,040 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Worcester, MA at a glance

Median salary

$36,550$17.57 per hour · $3,046 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$31,990$15.38/hr
25th percentile$34,990$16.82/hr
75th percentile$41,490$19.95/hr
90th percentile$47,400$22.79/hr
Jobs in this metro1,390Location quotient 0.69 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here37% belowAll-jobs median $57,830
Against Massachusetts6% belowStatewide median $38,900
Against the U.S.3% aboveNational median $35,320

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 MassachusettsFederal tax, FICA and Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Massachusetts.

Food preparation worker salary in Worcester, MA after taxes

$36,550
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,550
Net 82%
Fed 6%
MA 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,040After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,503Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,155Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,206 / yr
Massachusetts state income tax$1,508 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,796 / yr
Customize deductions in full Massachusetts calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Worcester, MA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Worcester, MA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MA)
10th percentile$15.38/hr$2,666$31,990$26,604
25th percentile$16.82/hr$2,916$34,990$28,865
MedianMedian$17.57/hr$3,046$36,550$30,040
75th percentile$19.95/hr$3,458$41,490$33,763
90th percentile$22.79/hr$3,950$47,400$38,216

Is $36,550 a good salary in Worcester, MA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$95,939Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)102.52.5% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household38.1%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Compare markets

Food preparation workers pay in other Massachusetts metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Worcester, MA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Worcester, MA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Worcester, MA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Worcester, MA metro area was $36,550 in May 2025, about $3,046 a month or $17.57 an hour. Statewide, the Massachusetts median for this job is $38,900, so the metro pays 6% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Worcester, MA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Worcester, MA was $17.57 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.38 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.79.

How many food preparation workers work in Worcester, MA?

BLS estimated 1,390 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.0 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.69 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Worcester, MA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Worcester, MA run from $31,990 at the 10th percentile to $34,990 at the 25th, $41,490 at the 75th, and $47,400 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Worcester, MA?

On a median gross salary of $36,550, an estimated $30,040 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,155 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Massachusetts in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,510 (an effective rate of 17.8%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Worcester, MA?

On the median annual salary of $36,550, gross monthly income is $3,046. After federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,503 per month (or $1,155 every two weeks).

Is $36,550 a good salary in Worcester, MA?

At $36,550, the median salary for food preparation workers is 38.1% of the Worcester, MA median household income ($95,939). It is 37% below the $57,830 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 102.5, so prices here run 2.5% above the U.S. average.