How much does a food preparation worker make in Charlotte?
$34,180a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. That is $16.43 an hour or $2,848 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.43
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 166 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 5,800
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,760Median: $34,180Highest 10%: $43,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,760 | $10.46 | |
| 25th | $28,080 | $13.50 | |
| Median | $34,180 | $16.43 | |
| 75th | $37,480 | $18.02 | |
| 90th | $43,940 | $21.13 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 |
| Durham, NC | $34,560 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $32,580 |
| Asheville, NC | $32,110 |
| Greensboro, NC | $31,840 |
| Wilmington, NC | $31,830 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,660 |
| Raleigh, NC | $29,470 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $29,000 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,850 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,240 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,130 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,900 |
| Hickory, NC | $27,680 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $27,590 |
Related jobs in Charlotte
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,260 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,280 |
| Cook | $37,690 |
| Bartender | $37,390 |
| Cook | $37,030 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,430 |
| Cook | $34,600 |
| Food Server | $33,550 |
| Dishwasher | $31,920 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $31,440 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Charlotte?
The median hourly pay in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $16.43 ($34,180 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Charlotte than the national average?
No: $34,180 against $35,320 nationally, 3% less.
How does Charlotte compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $30,260, so Charlotte pays 13% more.
Where does Charlotte rank for food preparation worker pay?
166 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,760 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,940 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.