The 10-metre champion at the Sydney Olympics, Wilkinson produced a five-dive winning total of 564.87, returning the U.S to the top of the podium after the embarrassment of being shut out of the diving medals in Athens.
Loudy Tourky of Australia, the bronze medallist in Athens, moved one step up the podium by taking the silver with 551.25 while Jai Tong claimed the bronze with 550.98
to give China its fifth medal from the diving pool.
Canada's Emilie Heymans, leader after qualifying, had looked poised to earn the hosts their third gold medal in as many days but cracked on her final dive and dropped to fourth.
Related link: Wilkinson breaks China's stranglehold in diving
