Chefs and Head Cooks salary in North Carolina
Chefs and Head Cooks in North Carolina earn a median of $61,130 a year ($29.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,210 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $62,470. North Carolina ranks 29th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.99 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $63,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 25th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Median | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| 75th percentile | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,210 | $44.33 |
| Average (mean) | $63,960 | $30.75 |
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 | $5,094.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,547.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,351.15 |
| Weekly | $1,175.58 |
| Hourly | $29.39 |
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 cities in North Carolina
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dishwasher | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in North Carolina is $61,130 a year, or $29.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in North Carolina earn at least $92,210 a year. The top 25% earn $76,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,210 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,360 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in North Carolina?
About 4,920 chefs and head cooks are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.