Food Preparation Workers pay range in Providence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,220 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Providence earn between $33,140 and $41,390.
- $31K10th
- $33K25th
- $36KMedian
- $41K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,950 | $3,162 | $18.25 |
| Median | $36,250 | $3,021 | $17.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,140 | $2,762 | $15.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,390 | $3,449 | $19.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Providence vs. Rhode Island and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Providence earn about the same as the Rhode Island average ($37,910) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $37,950 | $36,250 | $31,200 | $45,220 | 3,870 |
| Rhode Island | $37,910 | $35,470 | $31,200 | $45,220 | 2,830 |
| 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 Providence
On the average salary of $37,950, a single filer in Providence takes home about $31,867 a year, or $2,656 a month and $1,226 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in RI | $31,867 | $2,656 |
| Working in MA | $31,095 | $2,591 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Is Providence a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Providence area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.8), so the average $37,950 buys what about $37,289 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Providence ($53,680). A typical home costs $524,867, or 13.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in nearby metro areas
- Norwich, CT$38,560
- Worcester, MA$38,700
- Boston, MA$41,630
- Barnstable, MA$40,990
- Hartford, CT$38,120
- Springfield, MA$38,520
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 Providence: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Providence?
$18.25 an hour on average, and $17.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Providence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Providence?
About $31,867 a year ($2,656 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,950. Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Providence than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (39300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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