Food Preparation Workers pay range in Elmira
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,870 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Elmira earn between $32,240 and $37,160.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,220 | $2,935 | $16.93 |
| Median | $34,010 | $2,834 | $16.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,160 | $3,097 | $17.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Elmira vs. New York and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Elmira earn 8% less than the New York average ($38,310) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira | $35,220 | $34,010 | $32,240 | $39,870 | 160 |
| New York | $38,310 | $35,610 | $33,280 | $46,800 | 62,380 |
| 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 Elmira
On the average salary of $35,220, a single filer in Elmira takes home about $29,147 a year, or $2,429 a month and $1,121 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Elmira a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Elmira area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.4), so the average $35,220 buys what about $37,310 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Elmira ($47,850). A typical home costs $161,607, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other New York cities
Elmira ranks 11th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($38,790).
- New York$38,790
- Ithaca$37,860
- Albany$37,270
- Kiryas Joel$36,740
- Kingston$36,490
- Binghamton$36,170
- Rochester$36,140
- Syracuse$36,070
- Buffalo$35,720
- Elmira$35,220
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 Elmira: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Elmira?
$16.93 an hour on average, and $16.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Elmira?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Elmira?
About $29,147 a year ($2,429 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,220. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Elmira 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 Elmira, NY (21300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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