Food Preparation Worker salary in Burlington, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Burlington, NC metro area earn a median of $29,660 a year ($14.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 410 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,120 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $30,260. There are 6.1 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Burlington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,220 | $10.20 |
| 25th percentile | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| Median | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| 75th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Average (mean) | $30,720 | $14.77 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,471.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,235.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,140.77 |
| Weekly | $570.38 |
| Hourly | $14.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 | 1,130 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,560 | 1,170 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,180 | 5,800 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $32,580 | 3,120 |
| Asheville, NC | $32,110 | 1,250 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $31,840 | 1,820 |
| Wilmington, NC | $31,830 | 1,380 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,470 | 5,290 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,000 | 300 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,850 | 260 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,240 | 410 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,130 | 250 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,900 | 280 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,680 | 750 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $27,590 | 930 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Burlington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,450 | $13.20 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Bartender | $31,170 | $14.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Dishwasher | $31,410 | $15.10 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $55,530 | $26.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Burlington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Burlington, NC?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Burlington, NC metro area is $29,660 a year, or $14.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Burlington, NC?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Burlington, NC metro area earn at least $37,120 a year. The top 25% earn $35,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Burlington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,220 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $27,620 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Burlington, NC?
About 410 food preparation workers are employed in the Burlington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.