How much does a food preparation worker make in Durham?
$34,560a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $16.62 an hour or $2,880 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.62
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 153 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,820Median: $34,560Highest 10%: $44,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,820 | $11.93 | |
| 25th | $28,960 | $13.92 | |
| Median | $34,560 | $16.62 | |
| 75th | $37,480 | $18.02 | |
| 90th | $44,950 | $21.61 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 |
| Charlotte, NC | $34,180 |
| 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 Durham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,090 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,150 |
| Cook | $38,970 |
| Bartender | $37,110 |
| Cook | $36,170 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 |
| Cook | $35,040 |
| Food Server | $34,500 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,480 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Durham?
The median hourly pay in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $16.62 ($34,560 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $34,560 against $35,320 nationally, 2% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $30,260, so Durham pays 14% more.
Where does Durham rank for food preparation worker pay?
153 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,950 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.