Food Preparation Workers salary · North Carolina
Food Preparation Workers Salary in North Carolina
Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina earn a median of $30,260 a year, which is $14.55 an hour. That is $5,060 below the national median of $35,320, a difference of 14 percent. The state employs 24,960.
North Carolina against the US May 2025
| Figure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $30,260 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $14.55 | $16.98 |
| Mean annual | $31,270 | $35,290 |
| 10th percentile | $21,870 | $25,810 |
| 90th percentile | $38,760 | $45,340 |
| Employment | 24,960 | 893,600 |
How North Carolina compares
By median pay, North Carolina ranks 10 of the 12 states this site reports for food preparation workers. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for food preparation workers May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 | $19.67 | 19,510 |
| California | $39,350 | $18.92 | 112,750 |
| Florida | $35,920 | $17.27 | 73,100 |
| New York | $35,610 | $17.12 | 62,380 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 | $17.09 | 24,730 |
| Georgia | $35,250 | $16.95 | 26,450 |
| Illinois | $34,850 | $16.75 | 34,820 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 | $16.76 | 24,620 |
| Texas | $30,650 | $14.74 | 81,280 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 | $13.80 | 19,780 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 | $11.36 | 30,920 |
Common questions
How much do food preparation workers make in North Carolina?
The median salary for food preparation workers in North Carolina is $30,260 a year, or $14.55 an hour. That is $5,060 below the national median of $35,320, a difference of 14 percent. North Carolina employs 24,960 of them.
Is North Carolina a good state to work as a food preparation worker?
On pay alone, North Carolina ranks 10 of the 12 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for food preparation workers in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $21,870 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $38,760 or more. The middle half falls between $26,610 and $36,120.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 35-2021 in North Carolina. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national food preparation workers salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.