Food Preparation Worker Salary in Winston, NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median $34,580 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,094 take-home, or $2,425 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Winston, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,970
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,144
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- North Carolina income tax$871
- Take-home pay$29,094
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Winston, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,270 | $12.15 | $21,920 | $1,827 |
| 25th percentile | $28,210 | $13.56 | $24,224 | $2,019 |
| Median (50th) | $34,580 | $16.63 | $29,094 | $2,425 |
| 75th percentile | $35,270 | $16.96 | $29,621 | $2,468 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,210 | $17.89 | $31,102 | $2,592 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,580 buys in Winston, NC
Prices in Winston, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,094 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,609 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 Winston, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Winston, NC ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Winston, NC | $34,580 | $29,094 | $31,609 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $34,560
- 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 Winston, NC?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $34,580 a year, or about $16.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,210 and $35,270.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Winston, NC?
On the median $34,580 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,094 a year ($2,425 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $871 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Winston, 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 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,609 would in a typical U.S. city. Winston, NC ranks #34 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Winston, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winston, NC is $1,031 a month ($1,164 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winston, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,670
- Bartender — $34,920
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,550
- Dishwasher — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,280
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,250
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,100