Food Preparation Worker Salary in Charlotte, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $34,180 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,789 take-home, or $2,399 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,922
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,119
- Medicare (1.45%)$496
- North Carolina income tax$855
- Take-home pay$28,789
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,760 | $10.46 | $19,170 | $1,597 |
| 25th percentile | $28,080 | $13.50 | $24,122 | $2,010 |
| Median (50th) | $34,180 | $16.43 | $28,789 | $2,399 |
| 75th percentile | $37,480 | $18.02 | $31,308 | $2,609 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,940 | $21.13 | $36,241 | $3,020 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,180 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,789 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,573 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Charlotte, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #32 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 32 | Charlotte, NC | $34,180 | $28,789 | $29,573 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $29,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Charlotte, NC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $34,180 a year, or about $16.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,080 and $37,480.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $34,180 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $28,789 a year ($2,399 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $855 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,573 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #32 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,690
- Bartender — $37,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,430
- Dishwasher — $31,920
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,550
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,690