Food Preparation Worker Salary in Durham, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $34,560 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,079 take-home, or $2,423 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,967
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,143
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- North Carolina income tax$870
- Take-home pay$29,079
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,820 | $11.93 | $21,568 | $1,797 |
| 25th percentile | $28,960 | $13.92 | $24,803 | $2,067 |
| Median (50th) | $34,560 | $16.62 | $29,079 | $2,423 |
| 75th percentile | $37,480 | $18.02 | $31,308 | $2,609 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,950 | $21.61 | $37,013 | $3,084 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,560 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,079 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,802 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 Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #114 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 114 | Durham, NC | $34,560 | $29,079 | $29,802 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $34,580
- Charlotte, NC — $34,180
- Greensboro, NC — $31,840
- Asheville, NC — $32,110
- Wilmington, NC — $31,830
- Hickory, NC — $27,680
- Fayetteville, NC — $27,590
- Raleigh, NC — $29,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Durham, NC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $34,560 a year, or about $16.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,960 and $37,480.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $34,560 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,079 a year ($2,423 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $870 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,802 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #114 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 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 Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,970
- Bartender — $37,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,500
- Dishwasher — $33,800
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,410