Food Preparation Worker salary in Wilmington, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $31,830 a year ($15.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,420 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 5% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $30,260. There are 7.2 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,820 | $10.97 |
| 25th percentile | $27,900 | $13.41 |
| Median | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| 75th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Average (mean) | $33,110 | $15.92 |
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 | $2,652.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,326.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,224.23 |
| Weekly | $612.12 |
| Hourly | $15.30 |
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 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,660 | 410 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Bartender | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,320 | $13.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,120 | $27.94 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $31,830 a year, or $15.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $44,420 a year. The top 25% earn $35,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,820 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $27,900 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 1,380 food preparation workers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.