Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Others in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $23,920 a year, or about $11.5 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $36K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $27,031 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 63.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $24K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food preparation and serving related workers, all others
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level food preparation and serving related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $24K. Top earners bring in $36K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62K | +78% | N/A |
| Arizona | $37K | +6% | 1,040 |
| Indiana | $37K | +6% | N/A |
| Illinois | $37K | +5% | 4,250 |
| Oregon | $37K | +5% | 200 |
| Maryland | $36K | +5% | 4,330 |
| California | $36K | +4% | 31,750 |
| New Hampshire | $36K | +4% | 310 |
| Nevada | $36K | +2% | 1,370 |
| New Mexico | $36K | +2% | 200 |
| Wyoming | $35K | +1% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +1% | 4,230 |
| Wisconsin | $35K | +0% | 560 |
| Michigan | $34K | -1% | 960 |
| Florida | $34K | -2% | 5,400 |
| Washington | $34K | -3% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $34K | -3% | 200 |
| Connecticut | $34K | -3% | 1,040 |
| Iowa | $33K | -4% | 360 |
| New York | $33K | -4% | 1,010 |
| Utah | $33K | -5% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $33K | -6% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $32K | -7% | 960 |
| Maine | $31K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $31K | -11% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -13% | 70 |
| Virginia | $30K | -14% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $30K | -15% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -16% | 1,590 |
| Texas | $28K | -19% | 4,340 |
| Ohio | $28K | -21% | 3,250 |
| Delaware | $28K | -21% | N/A |
| Georgia | $27K | -21% | 1,780 |
| Montana | $27K | -22% | 330 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -22% | 4,950 |
| Mississippi | $26K | -26% | 410 |
| Missouri | $26K | -27% | N/A |
| Alabama | $23K | -35% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $23K | -35% | 50 |
| South Carolina | $22K | -37% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $22K | -38% | 4,350 |
| North Dakota | $21K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food preparation and serving related workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation and serving related workers, all others make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $23,920 a year, that works out to about $12 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $17,320, and experienced food preparation and serving related workers, all others can clear $35,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $24K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,677/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 65.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food preparation and serving related workers, all other salary go in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation and serving related workers, all other salary is worth about $27,031 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation and serving related workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.