Food Preparation Workers Salary in New Jersey
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in New Jersey was $35,540 +0.6% vs national
New Jersey vs United States
| New Jersey | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $35,540 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $17.09 | $16.98 |
| Employment | 24,730 | 893,600 |
| Location quotient | 1 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (New Jersey) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
How to interpret these figures
At $17.09 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $35,547 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $35,540.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average food preparation workers salary in New Jersey?
The median annual wage in New Jersey is $35,540 ($17.09 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
The New Jersey median of $35,540 is 0.6% higher than the U.S. median of $35,320.
How many food preparation workers work in New Jersey?
Approximately 24,730 are employed in New Jersey, per BLS OES.