Food Preparation Workers pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,230 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Las Cruces earn between $30,370 and $34,680.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $32KMedian
- $35K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,590 | $2,716 | $15.67 |
| Median | $32,360 | $2,697 | $15.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,370 | $2,531 | $14.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,680 | $2,890 | $16.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Las Cruces earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($32,880) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $32,590 | $32,360 | $28,550 | $35,230 | 830 |
| 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 Las Cruces
On the average salary of $32,590, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $27,932 a year, or $2,328 a month and $1,074 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 Las Cruces a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $32,590 buys what about $36,126 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 3rd 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 Las Cruces: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Las Cruces?
$15.67 an hour on average, and $15.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $27,932 a year ($2,328 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,590.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.81, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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