Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Greensboro-High Point, NC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area earn a median of $59,160 a year ($28.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,630 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $61,130. There are 0.77 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $63,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| 25th percentile | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Median | $59,160 | $28.44 |
| 75th percentile | $72,080 | $34.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,630 | $44.06 |
| Average (mean) | $63,330 | $30.45 |
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 | $4,930 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,465 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,275.38 |
| Weekly | $1,137.69 |
| Hourly | $28.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 | 270 |
| 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 |
| 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 Greensboro-High Point, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,880 | $13.40 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,200 | $13.56 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Bartender | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Dishwasher | $29,760 | $14.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $29,190 | $14.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Greensboro-High Point, 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 Greensboro-High Point, NC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area is $59,160 a year, or $28.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Greensboro-High Point, NC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area earn at least $91,630 a year. The top 25% earn $72,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,140 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,460 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Greensboro-High Point, NC?
About 280 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.