Food Preparation Workers Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $33,070 -3.4% vs national
Median hourly $15.90
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $42,000
Employed locally 240
National median $34,220

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Food Preparation Workers
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Watertown, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $31,200
    50th (median)
    $33,070
    75th
    $38,850
    90th
    $42,000

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation Workers salary vs area income 51% Median Food Preparation Workers salary is 49% 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 Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,800
    Waiters and Waitresses$40,720
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,480
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,130
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,710
    Bartenders$37,020

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation Workers in Watertown, NY is $15.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.30 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Preparation Workers salary in Watertown, NY is 3.4% 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 Watertown?

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