How much does a food preparation worker make in Wilmington?
$31,830a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $15.30 an hour or $2,653 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.30
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 218 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,820Median: $31,830Highest 10%: $44,420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,820 | $10.97 | |
| 25th | $27,900 | $13.41 | |
| Median | $31,830 | $15.30 | |
| 75th | $35,920 | $17.27 | |
| 90th | $44,420 | $21.36 |
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 |
| 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 Wilmington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,120 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,360 |
| Bartender | $37,890 |
| Cook | $36,050 |
| Cook | $34,940 |
| Food Server | $34,810 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,610 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,350 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 |
| Cook | $29,620 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Wilmington?
The median hourly pay in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $15.30 ($31,830 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $31,830 against $35,320 nationally, 10% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $30,260, so Wilmington pays 5% more.
Where does Wilmington rank for food preparation worker pay?
218 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,420 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.