BLS metro-level wage data places Food Preparation Workers pay in Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area at a median of $30,520 per year ($14.67/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $35,320, Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area pays 14% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster. Approximately 770 food preparation workerss are employed across the Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 35-2021.

The Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $26,600 at the 10th percentile to $37,220 at the 90th — a 1.4× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $27,330 and the 75th at $33,960, so half of Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area-based food preparation workerss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide NM data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.