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What does a Food Preparation Workers salary really buy you in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire is 7.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
New Hampshire's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 107.6, meaning prices are 7.6% higher the national average. A Food Preparation Workers earning $36,780 in New Hampshire has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,182 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New Hampshire's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $26,830 | $24,934 | $-1,895 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $31,000 | $28,810 | $-2,189 |
| Median (P50) | $36,780 | $34,182 | $-2,597 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $39,330 | $36,552 | $-2,777 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $45,980 | $42,732 | $-3,247 |
While $36,780 sounds high, New Hampshire's elevated cost of living erases 7% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $34,182. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
New Hampshire's RPP of 107.6 puts it 7.6% above the national baseline cost of living. A Food Preparation Workers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying New Hampshire's RPP, the $36,780 median salary translates to $34,182 in real terms — a 7.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Food Preparation Workers.
New Hampshire's rank of #32 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Food Preparation Workers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Food Preparation Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New Hampshire ranks #32 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Food Preparation Workers take-home pay in New Hampshire after taxes →
A Food Preparation Workers in New Hampshire earns a median salary of $36,780 per year. After adjusting for New Hampshire's cost of living (RPP=107.6), the real purchasing power is $34,182 — a -7.1% difference.
New Hampshire's cost of living is 7.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New Hampshire is 107.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Food Preparation Workers in New Hampshire: $36,780 x (100 / 107.6) = $34,182. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Food Preparation Workers's nominal salary of $36,780 in New Hampshire has 7.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $34,182. However, New Hampshire may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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