Food Preparation Workers Salary in Elmira, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Elmira, NY

Median annual salary $32,820 -4.1% vs national
Median hourly $15.78
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $38,850
Employed locally 180
National median $34,220

Compare Food Preparation Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Elmira, NY stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Food Preparation Workers
in
Elmira, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $31,200
    50th (median)
    $32,820
    75th
    $36,940
    90th
    $38,850

    Elmira economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,469 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation Workers salary vs area income 52% Median Food Preparation Workers salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,120
    Napa, CA $43,260
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $42,830
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $41,980
    Boulder, CO $41,490
    Greeley, CO $41,340

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,120
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $36,330
    Ithaca, NY $35,990
    Albany, OR $35,800
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $35,520
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $35,310

    Related occupations in Elmira, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $32,860
    Waiters and Waitresses $39,190
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $41,210
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $31,430
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,750
    Bartenders $38,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Preparation Workers make per hour in Elmira?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation Workers in Elmira, NY is $15.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.17 or more per hour.

    Is Elmira above or below average for Food Preparation Workers salaries?

    The median Food Preparation Workers salary in Elmira, NY is 4.1% below the national median of $34,220. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation Workers in Elmira?

    Entry-level Food Preparation Workers (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Elmira, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,200.