Food Preparation Workers Salary in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA is $40,140. BLS estimates approximately 510 people work in this occupation in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA. Amherst Town-Northampton, MA is 13.6% above the national median ($35,320).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,580 | $16.62 |
| 25th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Median (50th) | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 75th percentile | $40,430 | $19.44 |
| 90th percentile | $47,680 | $22.92 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 0.8% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 9.2% — Reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.775
- Location quotient
- 1.35
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA’s regional price level is above the national average (index 100.243, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $40,043 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.