Occupation (9521) - 2026-Q1
The workforce of Preparers and Street Food Vendors during first quarter of 2026 was 782k people, whose salary averaged $5.55k MX working around 33.8 hours per week.
The average age of Preparers and Street Food Vendors was 43.9 years. The workforce was distributed in 42.7% men with an average salary of $6.35k MX and, 57.3% women with average salary of $4.96k MX.
The best average salaries received by Preparers and Street Food Vendors were in Nuevo León ($10.3k MX), Quintana Roo ($9.8k MX), and Baja California Sur ($9.74k MX) while the workforce was larger in Estado de México (104k), Puebla (86.6k), and Ciudad de México (78.9k).
In terms of industries, the best average salaries were in Retail Trade of Health Care Items ($10.5k MX), Amusement Parks and Arcades ($7.29k MX), and Retail Trade of Groceries and Food ($5.6k MX), while the workforce was concentrated on Retail Trade of Beverages, Ice and Tobacco (717k), Retail Trade of Groceries and Food (19.6k), and Retail Trade of Apparel, Costume Jewelry and Clothing Accessories (3.42k).
57.5% of the total informal workers correspond to women with an average salary of $4.9k MX and 42.5% to men with an average salary of $6.29k MX.
At the level of states, Tlaxcala had the highest percentage of informal workers with 100% corresponding to 11.5k from 11.5k workers, while the state with the lowest percentage of informal workers was Baja California with a 84.6% corresponding to 16.4k from 19.4k workers.
At first quarter of 2026, the people who worked as Preparers and Street Food Vendors were 782k being a 3.15% lower than the fourth quarter of 2025. (808k).
In the same period, an average salary of $5.55k MX was observed, registering an increase of 14.3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 ($4.86k MX).
The states with the highest number of Preparers and Street Food Vendors during the first quarter of 2026 were Estado de México (104k), Puebla (86.6k), and Ciudad de México (78.9k)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the main positive variations occurred in Michoacán de Ocampo and Oaxaca with an increase of 10.3k (37.6%) and 8.65k (33.4%), respectively. On the other hand, the negative variations were accentuated in Puebla and Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave with a decrease of 21.9k (20.2%) and 14.3k (19.3%), respectively.
The states with the best average salaries for Preparers and Street Food Vendors during first quarter of 2026 were Nuevo León ($10.3k MX), Quintana Roo ($9.8k MX), and Baja California Sur ($9.74k MX)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the positive salary growth was higher in Nuevo León and Quintana Roo with an increase of $3.75k MX (57%) and $3.28k MX (50.2%), respectively. Por otro lado, las variaciones salariales negativas se acentuaron en Sinaloa and Zacatecas with a decrease of $2.47k MX (31.8%) and $2.47k MX (42.9%), respectively.
Average Age 2026-Q1
At first quarter of 2026, the male workforce in Preparers and Street Food Vendors represented the 42.7% of the employed population and women 57.3%. The male and female workforce was higher in the age group 45 to 54 years (66.7k men and 103k women).
The highest average salary was $8.44k MX received by men from 35 to 44 years, while the lowest average salary was $1.93k MX received by women from 75 or more years.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
Average Schooling in Years (2026-Q1)
During the first quarter of 2026, male and female workforce in Preparers and Street Food Vendors was concentrated in the educational segment with 7 to 9 years of schooling (112k men and 162k women).
The highest average salary was $7.77k MX received by men with 16 to 18 years of schooling, while the lowest average salary was $3.44k MX received by men with 13 to 15 years of schooling.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
The visualization shows the distribution of Preparers and Street Food Vendors in different industries and economic sectors.
At first quarter of 2026, the workforce was higher in Retail Trade of Beverages, Ice and Tobacco (95.4%), Retail Trade of Groceries and Food (2.61%), and Retail Trade of Apparel, Costume Jewelry and Clothing Accessories (0.46%).
In the same period, the best average salaries were received in Retail Trade of Health Care Items ($10.5k MX), Amusement Parks and Arcades ($7.29k MX), and Retail Trade of Groceries and Food ($5.6k MX).
Labor Informality 2026-Q1
During the first quarter of 2026, the labor informality of Preparers and Street Food Vendors reached a 97.5%, which implied a decrease from 0.28 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (97.8%).
The labor informality of this occupation was higher than informality at the country level in 42.7 percentage points during the first quarter of 2026.
Greater Labor Informality: 100%, Tlaxcala
Less Labor Informality: 84.6 %, Baja California
At first quarter of 2026, the states with the highest rate of labor informality in Preparers and Street Food Vendors were Tlaxcala (100%), Sinaloa (100%), and Guerrero (100%).
The states with the lowest informality rate were Aguascalientes (88.9%), Nuevo León (88.5%), and Baja California (84.6%).
The workforce of Preparers and Street Food Vendors during the first quarter of 2026 was higher in the age group with 45 to 54 years concentrating 170k workers of which 3.01% corresponds to formal employment (5.11k) and 97% to informal employment (165k).
Regarding the schooling years, the workforce was higher in the range with 7 to 9 years of schooling concentrating 274k workers of which 1.48% corresponds to formal employment (4.06k) and 98.5% corresponds to informal employment (270k).