How much does a food preparation worker make in Hickory?
$27,680a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $13.31 an hour or $2,307 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.31
- Vs. national median
- -22%
- Rank among cities
- 342 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 750
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $20,960Median: $27,680Highest 10%: $37,140
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,960 | $10.08 | |
| 25th | $23,890 | $11.49 | |
| Median | $27,680 | $13.31 | |
| 75th | $34,130 | $16.41 | |
| 90th | $37,140 | $17.86 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 |
| Durham, NC | $34,560 |
| 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 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $27,590 |
Related jobs in Hickory
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,780 |
| Cook | $35,130 |
| Bartender | $31,860 |
| Food Server | $31,370 |
| Cook | $30,380 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,310 |
| Cook | $29,230 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,150 |
| Dishwasher | $28,980 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Hickory?
The median hourly pay in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $13.31 ($27,680 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $27,680 against $35,320 nationally, 22% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $30,260, so Hickory pays 9% less.
Where does Hickory rank for food preparation worker pay?
342 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $20,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,140 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.