SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 1 metro areas compared
At $35,300, median pay for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Massachusetts tracks the national median of $35,840 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,300, median pay for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Massachusetts tracks the national median of $35,840 closely. Pay ranges from under $31,730 at the tenth percentile to more than $40,050 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $33,540 to $39,840.
Massachusetts ranks number 18th out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Boston records the highest median at $38,210. Of the 717 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 711th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,730 | −11.5% |
| 25th | $33,540 | −6.4% |
| Median (50th) | $35,300 | −1.5% |
| 75th | $39,840 | +11.2% |
| 90th | $40,050 | +11.7% |
| Mean | $36,210 | +1.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $38,210 | 430 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $35,300 buys what $33,365 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,365US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,300 a year, 1.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,730 to $40,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 18th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boston, at $38,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Massachusetts?
The median annual wage is $35,300, or $16.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,840, so pay in Massachusetts is 1.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Massachusetts earns more than $40,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,730 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Boston, at $38,210 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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