Food Preparation Workers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,380 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Raleigh earn between $24,520 and $36,410.
- $22K10th
- $25K25th
- $29KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,160 | $2,597 | $14.98 |
| Median | $29,470 | $2,456 | $14.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,520 | $2,043 | $11.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,410 | $3,034 | $17.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Raleigh earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($31,270) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $31,160 | $29,470 | $22,340 | $39,380 | 5,290 |
| North Carolina | $31,270 | $30,260 | $21,870 | $38,760 | 24,960 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $31,160, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $26,482 a year, or $2,207 a month and $1,019 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $31,160 buys what about $31,745 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 14.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 7th 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
- Greenville$29,710
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Raleigh?
$14.98 an hour on average, and $14.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $26,482 a year ($2,207 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,160.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.