Food Preparation Workers pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,940 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Charlotte earn between $28,080 and $37,480.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,310 | $2,776 | $16.01 |
| Median | $34,180 | $2,848 | $16.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,080 | $2,340 | $13.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,480 | $3,123 | $18.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Charlotte earn 7% more than the North Carolina average ($31,270) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $33,310 | $34,180 | $21,760 | $43,940 | 5,800 |
| North Carolina | $31,270 | $30,260 | $21,870 | $38,760 | 24,960 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Charlotte
On the average salary of $33,310, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $28,124 a year, or $2,344 a month and $1,082 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $28,580 | $2,382 |
| Working in NC | $28,124 | $2,344 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $33,310 buys what about $34,217 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 11.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($34,440).
- Durham$34,440
- Charlotte$33,310
- Wilmington$33,110
- Asheville$32,980
- Winston-Salem$32,490
- Greensboro$31,930
- Raleigh$31,160
- Burlington$30,720
- Pinehurst$29,960
- Greenville$29,710
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Charlotte: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Charlotte?
$16.01 an hour on average, and $16.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $28,124 a year ($2,344 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,310.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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