Food Preparation Workers pay range in Manchester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,050 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Manchester earn between $29,120 and $38,230.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 |
| Median | $36,330 | $3,028 | $17.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,120 | $2,427 | $14.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,230 | $3,186 | $18.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Manchester vs. New Hampshire and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Manchester earn about the same as the New Hampshire average ($36,440) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $35,400 | $36,330 | $27,250 | $45,050 | 860 |
| New Hampshire | $36,440 | $36,780 | $26,830 | $45,980 | 3,420 |
| 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 Manchester
On the average salary of $35,400, a single filer in Manchester takes home about $30,624 a year, or $2,552 a month and $1,178 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Manchester a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Manchester area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.7), so the average $35,400 buys what about $33,505 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Manchester ($56,530). A typical home costs $526,340, or 14.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in nearby metro areas
- Worcester, MA$38,700
- Boston, MA$41,630
- Amherst, MA$39,900
- Springfield, MA$38,520
- Portland, ME$39,110
- Pittsfield, MA$39,410
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 Manchester: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Manchester?
$17.02 an hour on average, and $17.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Manchester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Manchester?
About $30,624 a year ($2,552 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,400. New Hampshire has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Manchester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Manchester-Nashua, NH (31700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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