Food Preparation Workers pay range in Farmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,060 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Farmington earn between $28,860 and $34,990.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,860 | $2,655 | $15.32 |
| Median | $31,030 | $2,586 | $14.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,860 | $2,405 | $13.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,990 | $2,916 | $16.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Farmington vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Farmington earn 3% less than the New Mexico average ($32,880) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | $31,860 | $31,030 | $26,270 | $36,060 | 320 |
| 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 Farmington
On the average salary of $31,860, a single filer in Farmington takes home about $27,369 a year, or $2,281 a month and $1,053 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Farmington a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Farmington area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $31,860 buys what about $36,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Farmington ($45,820). A typical home costs $274,565, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other New Mexico cities
Farmington ranks 4th 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 Farmington: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Farmington?
$15.32 an hour on average, and $14.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Farmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Farmington?
About $27,369 a year ($2,281 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,860.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Farmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Farmington, NM (22140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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