Food Preparation Workers pay in Massachusetts
$41,030avg. a year
$19.73 an hour · 13,620 employed
Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts earn an average of $41,030 a year. That is $5,740 (16%) more than the U.S. average of $35,290. The best-paying metro area is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $41,630.
$38,900Median pay
$19.73Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#5Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Massachusetts metro areas
Average pay for food preparation workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 7.
19,630 jobs
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$41,630
$20.01 an hour
2670 jobs
Barnstable Town, MA
$40,990
$19.71 an hour
3510 jobs
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
$39,900
$19.18 an hour
4310 jobs
Pittsfield, MA
$39,410
$18.95 an hour
51,390 jobs
Worcester, MA
$38,700
$18.61 an hour
6810 jobs
Springfield, MA
$38,520
$18.52 an hour
73,870 jobs
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
$37,950
$18.25 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Massachusetts, charted
Pay over time
Massachusetts, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Massachusetts food preparation workers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Massachusetts highlighted · tap a state
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Under $32k$32k–$35k$35k–$38k$38k+Massachusetts
Massachusetts vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,290 | $16.96 |
| Massachusetts | $41,030 | $19.73 |
| Connecticut | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| Vermont | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| New York | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| Rhode Island | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| New Hampshire | $36,440 | $17.52 |
Related jobs in Massachusetts
Average pay, Massachusetts, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do food preparation workers make in Massachusetts?
The average is $41,030 a year, and the median is $38,900. That is $5,740 (16%) more than the U.S. average of $35,290.
What is the hourly wage in Massachusetts?
$19.73 an hour on average; the median is $18.70.
Where in Massachusetts do they earn the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ($41,630), followed by Barnstable Town, MA ($40,990). The lowest average among 7 metro areas with data is Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($37,950).
How does Massachusetts rank?
Massachusetts ranks #5 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national food preparation workers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.