The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina is $29,410 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $30,030.
Pay spans roughly $21,910 at the 10th percentile to $37,010 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $14.14 per hour. An estimated 24,420 people work as food preparation workers in North Carolina.
| Median (annual) | $29,410 |
| Mean (annual) | $30,030 |
| Median (hourly) | $14.14 |
| 10th percentile | $21,910 |
| 90th percentile | $37,010 |
| Employment | 24,420 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.