Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $23,920 -31.3% vs national
Median hourly $11.50
10th percentile $17,320
90th percentile $35,660
Employed locally 130
National median $34,830

Compare Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary & buying power

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Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,320
    25th
    $20,560
    50th (median)
    $23,920
    75th
    $35,520
    90th
    $35,660

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary vs area income 40% Median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $77,840
    Hawaii $62,110
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $58,030
    Salem, OR $49,900
    Bend, OR $45,810
    Virgin Islands $43,410

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $42,230
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,960
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $32,780
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $31,510
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $30,610
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $29,120

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food$24,180
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,400
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,580
    Cooks, Restaurant$34,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,760
    Food Preparation Workers$27,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Hickory, NC is $11.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.30 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salaries?

    The median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in Hickory, NC is 31.3% below the national median of $34,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Hickory?

    Entry-level Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $17,320 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,560.