Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $61,190 a year ($29.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,840 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $61,130. There are 1.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| 25th percentile | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Median | $61,190 | $29.42 |
| 75th percentile | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,840 | $46.56 |
| Average (mean) | $63,990 | $30.77 |
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 | $5,099.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,549.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,353.46 |
| Weekly | $1,176.73 |
| Hourly | $29.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 | 270 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $62,260 | 90 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,020 | $22.12 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,220 | $13.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Bartender | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $61,190 a year, or $29.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $96,840 a year. The top 25% earn $76,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,790 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $47,270 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 820 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.