Food Preparation Workers pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,320 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Albuquerque earn between $29,500 and $36,250.
- $27K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,810 | $2,818 | $16.25 |
| Median | $34,380 | $2,865 | $16.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,500 | $2,458 | $14.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,250 | $3,021 | $17.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($32,880) and 4% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $33,810 | $34,380 | $27,290 | $38,320 | 2,570 |
| New Mexico | $32,880 | $33,370 | $27,290 | $38,200 | 6,850 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $33,810, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $28,860 a year, or $2,405 a month and $1,110 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 (2026 rules).
Is Albuquerque a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $33,810 buys what about $35,386 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 2nd of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($36,570).
- Santa Fe$36,570
- Albuquerque$33,810
- Las Cruces$32,590
- Farmington$31,860
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Albuquerque?
$16.25 an hour on average, and $16.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $28,860 a year ($2,405 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,810.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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