Food Preparation Workers Salary in Vermont
The median for food preparation workers in Vermont is $36,550 a year, somewhat above the national $35,320 (+3%); the state ranks 12th of 51 states by median. That is 35% less than the median across all occupations in Vermont ($56,390). Among neighbouring states, Massachusetts and New Hampshire pay more (up to $38,900 in Massachusetts) and New York pays less (down to $35,610 in New York). Vermont employs 1,350 food preparation workers, 4.43 per 1,000 jobs, the 50th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.77 means it is less common in Vermont than nationally.
Vermont vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $15.31 | $16.93 | $17.57 | $20.64 | $23.57 | $18.68 | 1,350 | 4.43 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $31,840 | $35,220 | $36,550 | $42,920 | $49,020 | $38,850 | ||||
| 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
- 12th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 50th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.77
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.43
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Vermont'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 Vermont
1 metropolitan area and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $17.81 | $37,040 | $33,960 | $51,080 | 450 | 3.76 | 0.65 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $17.54 | $36,490 | $31,840 | $49,020 | 470 | 5.26 | 0.92 |
| Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $17.19 | $35,750 | $31,440 | $49,290 | 420 | 4.95 | 0.86 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $17.57 | $36,550 | 1,350 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $18.70 | $38,900 | 13,620 | 0.65 |
| New Hampshire | $17.68 | $36,780 | 3,420 | 0.87 |
| New York | $17.12 | $35,610 | 62,380 | 1.12 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Vermont 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 Vermont 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.