Food Preparation Workers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,420 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Wilmington earn between $27,900 and $35,920.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,110 | $2,759 | $15.92 |
| Median | $31,830 | $2,652 | $15.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,900 | $2,325 | $13.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,920 | $2,993 | $17.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Wilmington earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($31,270) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $33,110 | $31,830 | $22,820 | $44,420 | 1,380 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $33,110, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $27,972 a year, or $2,331 a month and $1,076 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $33,110 buys what about $34,339 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 13.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 3rd 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
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Wilmington: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Wilmington?
$15.92 an hour on average, and $15.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $27,972 a year ($2,331 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,110.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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