Food Preparation Workers in New Jersey

This page captures the Food Preparation Workers labor market inside New Jersey using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $35,540 ($17.09/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 24,730 workers in this SOC code (35-2021). Relative to the national median of $35,320, the state estimate is +1% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within New Jersey, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $32,220, the 25th earns $33,530, the 75th reaches $38,470, and the 90th hits $46,070. The upper boundary is roughly 1.4× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within New Jersey where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.