Food Preparation Workers salary
in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Middle 50%
- $28,080–$37,480
- vs U.S. median
- -3%
- Metro rank
- #195 of 496
Food Preparation Workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro earn a median of $34,180 a year, based on BLS estimates for 5,800 jobs (May 2025). That is 3% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 13% above the NC statewide median of $30,260. It ranks #195 of 496 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE5,800 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Food Preparation Workers pay in other NC metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,560 |
| Asheville, NC | $32,110 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $31,840 |
| Wilmington, NC | $31,830 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,660 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,470 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,000 |
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RELATED JOBS IN CHARLOTTE
Questions
What is the average Food Preparation Workers salary in Charlotte?
The BLS median is $34,180 a year (May 2025). Half of the 5,800 jobs pay between $28,080 and $37,480. The 10th percentile is $21,760 and the 90th is $43,940.
Is Charlotte a high-paying metro for Food Preparation Workers?
That is 3% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 13% above the NC statewide median of $30,260. It ranks #195 of 496 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Food Preparation Workers make an hour in Charlotte?
About $16.43 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $34,180 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $13.50–$18.02 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.