Food Preparation Workers Salary in Massachusetts
The median for food preparation workers in Massachusetts is $38,900 a year, somewhat above the national $35,320 (+10%); the state ranks 5th of 51 states by median. That is 39% less than the median across all occupations in Massachusetts ($63,590). Massachusetts pays more than every neighbouring state: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Rhode Island range from $35,470 in Rhode Island to $36,780 in New Hampshire. Massachusetts employs 13,620 food preparation workers, 3.75 per 1,000 jobs, the 24th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.65 means it is less common in Massachusetts than nationally.
Massachusetts vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $16.48 | $17.34 | $18.70 | $21.43 | $23.28 | $19.73 | 13,620 | 3.75 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $34,280 | $36,060 | $38,900 | $44,580 | $48,420 | $41,030 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 5th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 24th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.65
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.75
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Massachusetts's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Massachusetts
7 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Massachusetts publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $19.30 | $40,140 | $34,580 | $47,680 | 510 | 7.78 | 1.35 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $19.07 | $39,660 | $34,760 | $48,450 | 9,630 | 3.56 | 0.62 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $18.59 | $38,660 | $34,190 | $55,480 | 670 | 7.14 | 1.24 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $17.76 | $36,930 | $31,410 | $48,260 | 310 | 5.48 | 0.95 |
| Worcester, MA | $17.57 | $36,550 | $31,990 | $47,400 | 1,390 | 3.96 | 0.69 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $17.43 | $36,250 | $31,200 | $45,220 | 3,870 | 5.42 | 0.94 |
| Springfield, MA | $17.32 | $36,020 | $31,250 | $48,380 | 810 | 4.03 | 0.70 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $19.73 | $41,040 | $35,300 | $58,710 | 260 | 6.34 | 1.10 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $18.70 | $38,900 | 13,620 | 0.65 |
| Connecticut | $17.62 | $36,650 | 12,250 | 1.26 |
| New Hampshire | $17.68 | $36,780 | 3,420 | 0.87 |
| New York | $17.12 | $35,610 | 62,380 | 1.12 |
| Rhode Island | $17.06 | $35,470 | 2,830 | 0.98 |
| Vermont | $17.57 | $36,550 | 1,350 | 0.77 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Massachusetts wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Massachusetts estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.