Salary guide, May 2025
Food Process Operator pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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The median annual wage for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $37,550 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $34,670 and $39,610.
The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC median is $2,130 below the national median of $39,680, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other
The Food Process Operator title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31,460 | $34,670 | $37,550 | $39,610 | $44,250 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.12 | $16.67 | $18.05 | $19.04 | $21.27 |
BLS estimated 50 workers employed in this occupation in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Location quotient: 0.38.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32,210 | $36,410 | $39,680 | $44,130 | $47,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.49 | $17.51 | $19.08 | $21.22 | $23.05 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Food Process Operator median is $37,550. The all-occupations median in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $60,720. Ratio: 0.62 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.38 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $35,490 | $36,920 | $40,260 |
| May 2025 | $34,670 | $37,550 | $39,610 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $39,800 | $39,800 to $45,890 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $36,660 | $34,640 to $37,220 |
All roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · National page · Food Process Operator ranked across metros