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Food Preparation Workers Salary in North Carolina

What Food Preparation Workers earn in North Carolina, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 11 counties.

Average in NC
$31,221
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
28 of 31
published states
Workers in state
28,630
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
11 counties

Pay by labor market in North Carolina

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in North Carolina
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$34,180$28,681$1,956Mecklenburg County, NC
Raleigh-Cary, NC$29,470$25,097−$572Wake County, NC

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Anson County, NC$34,180$28,681$10,896
2Rowan County, NC$34,180$28,681$9,492
3Lincoln County, NC$34,180$28,681$9,096
4Iredell County, NC$34,180$28,681$5,880
5Mecklenburg County, NC$34,180$28,681$1,956
6Union County, NC$34,180$28,681$1,956
7Cabarrus County, NC$34,180$28,681$1,956
8Gaston County, NC$34,180$28,681$1,956
9Wake County, NC$29,470$25,097−$572
10Johnston County, NC$29,470$25,097−$572
11Franklin County, NC$29,470$25,097−$572

Food Preparation Workers pay in North Carolina

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina is $31,221, based on 28,630 workers. Among the 31 states with published data, that ranks number 28. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so North Carolina averages 11.6% below it.

Inside North Carolina, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $34,180 in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area and the lowest is $29,470 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, a difference of $4,710 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina

We compare 11 North Carolina counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin, $10,896. In Franklin County, NC the basics cost $572 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 8 of the 11 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are Washington ($40,765), California ($39,696), New Hampshire ($39,052) and Colorado ($38,955).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in North Carolina?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $31,221, from $29,470 to $34,180 depending on the labor market.

Which North Carolina county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($10,896). Rowan County, NC follows at $9,492.