Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hickory, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $27,680 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,809 take-home, or $1,984 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,158
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,716
- Medicare (1.45%)$401
- North Carolina income tax$596
- Take-home pay$23,809
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.99% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,960 | $10.08 | $18,543 | $1,545 |
| 25th percentile | $23,890 | $11.49 | $20,839 | $1,737 |
| Median (50th) | $27,680 | $13.31 | $23,809 | $1,984 |
| 75th percentile | $34,130 | $16.41 | $28,750 | $2,396 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,140 | $17.86 | $31,049 | $2,587 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,680 buys in Hickory, NC
Prices in Hickory, NC are 11.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 40% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $23,809 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,907 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 about as common in Hickory, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #217 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 |
| 217 | Hickory, NC | $27,680 | $23,809 | $26,907 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $34,560
- Charlotte, NC — $34,180
- Greensboro, NC — $31,840
- Asheville, NC — $32,110
- Wilmington, NC — $31,830
- Fayetteville, NC — $27,590
- Raleigh, NC — $29,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Hickory, NC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $27,680 a year, or about $13.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,890 and $34,130.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $27,680 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $23,809 a year ($1,984 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $596 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,907 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #217 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Hickory, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hickory, NC is $908 a month ($1,095 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,780
- Bartender — $31,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,380
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,310
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,550