SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Manchester
Manchester-Nashua, NH
At $36,330, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Manchester, NH tracks the national median of $35,320 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,330, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Manchester, NH tracks the national median of $35,320 closely. Pay ranges from under $27,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,050 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,120 to $38,230.
The area has 860 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 436 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 408th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,250 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $29,120 | −17.6% |
| Median (50th) | $36,330 | +2.9% |
| 75th | $38,230 | +8.2% |
| 90th | $45,050 | +27.5% |
| Mean | $35,400 | +0.2% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Manchester run 4.2% above the national average, so the median of $36,330 buys what $34,866 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
104.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,866US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,330 a year, 2.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,250 to $45,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 860 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Manchester, NH?
The median annual wage is $36,330, or $17.47 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 $35,320, so pay in Manchester, NH is 2.9% higher. 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 Manchester, NH earns more than $45,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,250 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 860 jobs in this occupation in Manchester, NH. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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