Salaries › Food Prep Worker › New Jersey
Food Prep Worker Salary in New Jersey (2026)
$17.09 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,175/year ($2,515/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in New Jersey
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $33,530 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,540 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,470 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $46,070 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 24,730 Food Prep Worker jobs in New Jersey (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in New Jersey
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $35,540 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus New Jersey state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,175 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $35,540 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,085 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,719 |
| New Jersey state income tax | −$561 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,175 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,515 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free New Jersey paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in New Jersey?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in New Jersey is $35,540 per year ($17.09 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $33,530 and $38,470.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in New Jersey?
- On the median salary of $35,540, a single filer in New Jersey takes home about $30,175 per year ($2,515 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in New Jersey?
- BLS counts 24,730 Food Prep Worker jobs in New Jersey in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
Other salaries in New Jersey
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified New Jersey state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for New Jersey.