Food Preparation Workers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,950 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Durham earn between $28,960 and $37,480.
- $25K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,440 | $2,870 | $16.56 |
| Median | $34,560 | $2,880 | $16.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,960 | $2,413 | $13.92 |
| 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 Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Durham earn 10% more than the North Carolina average ($31,270) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $34,440 | $34,560 | $24,820 | $44,950 | 1,170 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $34,440, a single filer in Durham takes home about $28,987 a year, or $2,416 a month and $1,115 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $34,440 buys what about $35,297 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 12.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Durham: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Durham?
$16.56 an hour on average, and $16.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Durham?
About $28,987 a year ($2,416 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,440.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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