Food Preparation Workers pay range in Jacksonville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,140 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Jacksonville earn between $23,050 and $32,410.
- $19K10th
- $23K25th
- $28KMedian
- $32K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,730 | $2,311 | $13.33 |
| Median | $27,900 | $2,325 | $13.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,050 | $1,921 | $11.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,410 | $2,701 | $15.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Jacksonville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Jacksonville earn 11% less than the North Carolina average ($31,270) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $27,730 | $27,900 | $18,980 | $35,140 | 280 |
| 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 Jacksonville
On the average salary of $27,730, a single filer in Jacksonville takes home about $23,848 a year, or $1,987 a month and $917 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Jacksonville a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jacksonville area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.1), so the average $27,730 buys what about $30,113 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Jacksonville ($40,230). A typical home costs $293,312, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Jacksonville ranks 15th 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
- Jacksonville$27,730
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 Jacksonville: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Jacksonville?
$13.33 an hour on average, and $13.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Jacksonville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Jacksonville?
About $23,848 a year ($1,987 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,730.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Jacksonville than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Jacksonville, NC (27340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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