Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn a median of $29,070 a year ($13.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,290 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 18% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,400. There are 7.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Rocky Mount, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,960 | $11.52 |
| 25th percentile | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Median | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| 75th percentile | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Average (mean) | $31,590 | $15.19 |
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 | $2,422.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,211.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,118.08 |
| Weekly | $559.04 |
| Hourly | $13.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rocky Mount, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,710 | $11.40 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,760 | $19.11 |
| Bartender | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,990 | $12.49 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,820 | $12.89 |
| Dishwasher | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,920 | $27.85 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,620 | $13.76 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rocky Mount, NC
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 Rocky Mount, NC?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area is $29,070 a year, or $13.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Rocky Mount, NC?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn at least $42,290 a year. The top 25% earn $35,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Rocky Mount, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,960 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $27,230 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Rocky Mount, NC?
About 420 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.