Food Preparation Workers Salary in North Carolina
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$30,260
Median hourly
$15
Average annual
$31,270
Employed in state
25K
The median annual salary for Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina is $30,260, or about $15 an hour. That is 14% lower than the national median.
Pay in North Carolina ranges from $21,870 at the 10th percentile to $38,760 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 25K people work as food preparation workers in the state.
Pay distribution in North Carolina
10th$21,870
25th$26,610
Median$30,260
75th$36,120
90th$38,760
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $14.55
- Daily
- $116
- Weekly
- $582
- Bi-weekly
- $1,164
- Monthly
- $2,522
- Annual
- $30,260
$30,260 a year is around the 50th percentile for Food Preparation Workerss in North Carolina. The median is $30,260.
Food Preparation Workers pay by metro area in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 | 1.1K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,560 | 1.2K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,180 | 5.8K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $32,580 | 3.1K |
| Asheville, NC | $32,110 | 1.3K |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $31,840 | 1.8K |
| Wilmington, NC | $31,830 | 1.4K |
| Burlington, NC | $29,660 | 410 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,470 | 5.3K |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,000 | 300 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,850 | 260 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,240 | 410 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,130 | 250 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,900 | 280 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,680 | 750 |
Other jobs in North Carolina
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- Cooks, Fast Food$30,890
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Nursing Assistants$42,260
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Software Developers$135,980
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,930
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Cooks, Restaurant$37,390
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080