Food Preparation Worker salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in North Carolina earns a median of $30,260 a year ($14.55/hour equivalent), 14.3% below the national median of $35,320. North Carolina ranks #42 of 51 states. About 24,960 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $25,795 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $992 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,163.85
- Federal income tax
- −$55.82
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$72.16
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.88
- North Carolina income tax
- −$26.87
- Take-home pay
- $992.13
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $30,260
- Federal
- $1,451
- FICA
- $2,315
- State + local
- $699
- Net
- $25,795
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How North Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #42 | North Carolina | $30,260 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $30,260 a year and the average is $31,270 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for food preparation workers?
North Carolina ranks #42 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 14% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $30,260 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $25,795 a year ($992 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.