Cooks, Short Order salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Cooks, Short Order in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $29,230 a year ($14.05 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $23,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,920 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 7% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $31,290. The average (mean) salary is $29,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,040 | $11.08 |
| 25th percentile | $25,750 | $12.38 |
| Median | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| 75th percentile | $31,960 | $15.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Average (mean) | $29,310 | $14.09 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,435.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,217.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,124.23 |
| Weekly | $562.12 |
| Hourly | $14.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,040 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,600 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $31,200 | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,700 | 260 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,620 | 150 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $27,830 | 810 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,380 | $14.60 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,680 | $13.31 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,780 | $20.09 |
| Bartender | $31,860 | $15.32 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,110 | $13.03 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Dishwasher | $28,980 | $13.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,480 | $28.60 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. 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, short order make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $29,230 a year, or $14.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $35,920 a year. The top 25% earn $31,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,040 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $25,750 or less.