Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in New Mexico make a median of $33,370 a year, or about $16.04 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $35,859 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 49.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $33K get you in New Mexico?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Food preparation workers pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $33K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 47.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $36K | +8% | 560 |
| Albuquerque | $34K | +3% | 2,570 |
| Las Cruces | $32K | -3% | 830 |
| Farmington | $31K | -7% | 320 |
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 47.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food preparation workers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,637/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $33K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
New Mexico pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in New Mexico?
The median is $33,370 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,290, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $38,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,351/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 47.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food preparation workers salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation workers salary is worth about $35,859 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.