Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $66,090 a year ($31.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,670 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 8% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $61,130. There are 0.79 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $68,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| 25th percentile | $52,660 | $25.32 |
| Median | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| 75th percentile | $76,760 | $36.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,670 | $45.03 |
| Average (mean) | $68,430 | $32.90 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,507.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,753.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,541.92 |
| Weekly | $1,270.96 |
| Hourly | $31.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $62,260 | 90 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,190 | 820 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,400 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 | 290 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $59,480 | 110 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,160 | 280 |
| Wilmington, NC | $58,120 | 270 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $57,920 | 40 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 | 100 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 530 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 | 240 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $66,090 a year, or $31.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $93,670 a year. The top 25% earn $76,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,440 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $52,660 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 270 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.