Food Preparation Workers pay in North Carolina
$31,270avg. a year
$15.03 an hour · 24,960 employed
Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina earn an average of $31,270 a year. That is $4,020 (11%) less than the U.S. average of $35,290. The best-paying metro area is Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at $34,440.
$30,260Median pay
$15.03Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#43Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying North Carolina metro areas
Average pay for food preparation workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 16.
11,170 jobs
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
$34,440
$16.56 an hour
23,120 jobs
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
$34,040
$16.36 an hour
35,800 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$33,310
$16.01 an hour
41,380 jobs
Wilmington, NC
$33,110
$15.92 an hour
51,250 jobs
Asheville, NC
$32,980
$15.85 an hour
61,130 jobs
Winston-Salem, NC
$32,490
$15.62 an hour
71,820 jobs
Greensboro-High Point, NC
$31,930
$15.35 an hour
85,290 jobs
Raleigh-Cary, NC
$31,160
$14.98 an hour
9410 jobs
Burlington, NC
$30,720
$14.77 an hour
10300 jobs
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
$29,960
$14.41 an hour
11410 jobs
Greenville, NC
$29,710
$14.29 an hour
12260 jobs
Rocky Mount, NC
$29,160
$14.02 an hour
13750 jobs
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
$28,980
$13.93 an hour
14930 jobs
Fayetteville, NC
$28,620
$13.76 an hour
15250 jobs
Goldsboro, NC
$28,300
$13.61 an hour
16280 jobs
Jacksonville, NC
$27,730
$13.33 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Food Preparation Workers pay in North Carolina, charted
Pay over time
North Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where North Carolina food preparation workers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · North Carolina highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $32k$32k–$35k$35k–$38k$38k+North Carolina
North Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,290 | $16.96 |
| North Carolina | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| Virginia | $34,930 | $16.80 |
| Georgia | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| South Carolina | $32,300 | $15.53 |
| Tennessee | $30,860 | $14.84 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
- Cooks, Restaurant$35,140
- Cooks, Fast Food$27,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,130
- Cooks, Short Order$31,680
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,050
- Waiters and Waitresses$37,850
Average pay, North Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do food preparation workers make in North Carolina?
The average is $31,270 a year, and the median is $30,260. That is $4,020 (11%) less than the U.S. average of $35,290.
What is the hourly wage in North Carolina?
$15.03 an hour on average; the median is $14.55.
Where in North Carolina do they earn the most?
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($34,440), followed by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ($34,040). The lowest average among 16 metro areas with data is Jacksonville, NC ($27,730).
How does North Carolina rank?
North Carolina ranks #43 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national food preparation workers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.