SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Watertown
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Watertown, NY is $32,390 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 8.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Watertown, NY is $32,390 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 8.3%. Half of workers earn between $32,240 and $35,540. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $32,240 and the ninetieth at $40,140.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.3 of every thousand jobs. Albany leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 199th of 199 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | −8.7% |
| 25th | $32,240 | −8.7% |
| Median (50th) | $32,390 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $35,540 | +0.6% |
| 90th | $40,140 | +13.6% |
| Mean | $34,750 | −1.6% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | $36,260 | 1,890 | |
| 2 | Ithaca | $36,140 | 280 | |
| 3 | New York | $35,670 | 63,530 | |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $35,550 | 1,660 | |
| 5 | Binghamton | $35,370 | 550 | |
| 6 | Kingston | $35,130 | 370 | |
| 7 | Rochester | $35,020 | 2,870 | |
| 8 | Syracuse | $35,020 | 1,520 | |
| 9 | Buffalo | $34,700 | 3,290 | |
| 10 | Glens Falls | $34,200 | 300 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Watertown run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $32,390 buys what $30,019 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,019US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,390 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,240 to $40,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $36,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Watertown, NY?
The median annual wage is $32,390, or $15.57 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 Watertown, NY is 8.3% 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 Watertown, NY earns more than $40,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,240 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 Albany, at $36,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 jobs in this occupation in Watertown, NY. 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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