Baker salary in North Carolina
Bakers in North Carolina earn a median of $34,510 a year ($16.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $19,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,800 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,160. North Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for bakers pay. There are 1.9 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,750, close to the median.
Pay range for bakers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,690 | $9.46 |
| 25th percentile | $27,780 | $13.35 |
| Median | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| 75th percentile | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Average (mean) | $33,750 | $16.23 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,875.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,437.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,327.31 |
| Weekly | $663.65 |
| Hourly | $16.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,580 | 2,540 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $36,440 | 100 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,270 | 560 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,210 | 1,410 |
| Burlington, NC | $35,950 | 180 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,100 | 470 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,950 | 580 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,430 | 350 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $34,380 | 240 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $33,940 | 1,010 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $33,760 | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $33,640 | 490 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,540 | 330 |
| Greenville, NC | $33,130 | 100 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $30,420 | 80 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,470 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Machinist | $55,230 | $26.56 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in North Carolina?
The median salary for bakers in North Carolina is $34,510 a year, or $16.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $19,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of bakers in North Carolina earn at least $45,800 a year. The top 25% earn $37,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $19,690 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $27,780 or less.
How many bakers work in North Carolina?
About 9,320 bakers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.