Food Preparation Workers pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,850 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Trenton earn between $33,970 and $38,110.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,610 | $3,134 | $18.08 |
| Median | $35,950 | $2,996 | $17.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,970 | $2,831 | $16.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,110 | $3,176 | $18.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Trenton earn about the same as the New Jersey average ($37,680) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $37,610 | $35,950 | $32,220 | $45,850 | 1,190 |
| New Jersey | $37,680 | $35,540 | $32,220 | $46,070 | 24,730 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Trenton
On the average salary of $37,610, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $31,801 a year, or $2,650 a month and $1,223 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $37,610 buys what about $36,451 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 11.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other New Jersey cities
Trenton ranks 2nd of 3 New Jersey metro areas for this job; Atlantic City pays the most ($37,770).
- Atlantic City$37,770
- Trenton$37,610
- Vineland$36,490
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Trenton: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Trenton?
$18.08 an hour on average, and $17.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Trenton?
About $31,801 a year ($2,650 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,610. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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