How Much Do Food Preparation Workers Make in North Carolina?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina earns $30,260 per year and takes home $25,795 ($2,150/month) — a keep-rate of 85.2%, with 24,960 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $2,521.67 |
| Federal income tax | $120.93 |
| Social Security | $156.34 |
| Medicare | $36.56 |
| North Carolina state income tax | $58.22 |
| You keep | $2,149.61 |
How much do Food Preparation Workers make in North Carolina?
The median Food Preparation Workers in North Carolina earns $30,260 per year (BLS May 2025), about $14.55 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$30,260 gross in North Carolina keeps $25,795 after federal income tax ($1,451), FICA ($2,315) and state income tax ($699) — $2,150 per month, a 85.2% keep-rate.
How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Food Preparation Workers?
The North Carolina median is $5,060 below the national median of $35,320.
Which state pays Food Preparation Workers the most?
Washington has the highest median gross for Food Preparation Workers at $40,910 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Food Preparation Workers salary in every state · North Carolina paycheck calculator · North Carolina minimum wage