Cooks, Restaurant salary in North Carolina
Cooks, Restaurant in North Carolina earn a median of $35,400 a year ($17.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 50,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,450 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 10 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,140, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | $14.28 |
| Median | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| 75th percentile | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Average (mean) | $35,140 | $16.90 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,950 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,475 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,361.54 |
| Weekly | $680.77 |
| Hourly | $17.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,030 | 14,430 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,590 | 2,480 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,280 | 7,160 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,280 | 8,380 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $36,170 | 2,660 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $35,690 | 670 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,940 | 3,440 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,600 | 2,580 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,550 | 3,250 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,130 | 890 |
| Burlington, NC | $32,830 | 740 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $32,720 | 1,210 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $32,420 | 420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $30,380 | 1,410 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $29,580 | 730 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $29,070 | 420 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| Cooks, All Other | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
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 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in North Carolina?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in North Carolina is $35,400 a year, or $17.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in North Carolina earn at least $45,450 a year. The top 25% earn $38,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,980 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,690 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in North Carolina?
About 50,150 cooks, restaurant are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.