Food Preparation Workers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,140 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Hickory earn between $23,890 and $34,130.
- $21K10th
- $24K25th
- $28KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,980 | $2,415 | $13.93 |
| Median | $27,680 | $2,307 | $13.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,890 | $1,991 | $11.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,130 | $2,844 | $16.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $28,980, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $24,818 a year, or $2,068 a month and $955 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $28,980 buys what about $32,751 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($34,440).
- Durham$34,440
- Charlotte$33,310
- Wilmington$33,110
- Asheville$32,980
- Winston-Salem$32,490
- Greensboro$31,930
- Raleigh$31,160
- Burlington$30,720
- Pinehurst$29,960
- Hickory$28,980
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Hickory?
$13.93 an hour on average, and $13.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $24,818 a year ($2,068 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,980.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.