SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Jacksonville
Jacksonville, NC · 10 metro areas compared
In Jacksonville, NC the median wage is $27,900.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Jacksonville, NC the median wage is $27,900. That is 21.0% lower than the national median of $35,320. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $23,050 and $32,410. The lowest tenth earn under $18,980, while the highest tenth earn more than $35,140.
Employment stands at 280, or 5.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Winston-Salem leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 215th of 227 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,980 | −46.3% |
| 25th | $23,050 | −34.7% |
| Median (50th) | $27,900 | −21.0% |
| 75th | $32,410 | −8.2% |
| 90th | $35,140 | −0.5% |
| Mean | $27,730 | −21.5% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston-Salem | $34,580 | 1,130 | |
| 2 | Durham | $34,560 | 1,170 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $34,180 | 5,800 | |
| 4 | Asheville | $32,110 | 1,250 | |
| 5 | Greensboro | $31,840 | 1,820 | |
| 6 | Wilmington | $31,830 | 1,380 | |
| 7 | Burlington | $29,660 | 410 | |
| 8 | Raleigh | $29,470 | 5,290 | |
| 9 | Pinehurst | $29,000 | 300 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $28,850 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Jacksonville run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $27,900 goes as far as $29,586 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,586US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,900 a year, 21.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,980 to $35,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Winston-Salem, at $34,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Jacksonville, NC?
The median annual wage is $27,900, or $13.42 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,320, so pay in Jacksonville, NC is 21.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Jacksonville, NC earns more than $35,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,980 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Winston-Salem, at $34,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Jacksonville, NC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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