Cooks, Short Order salary in North Carolina
Cooks, Short Order in North Carolina earn a median of $31,290 a year ($15.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,880. North Carolina ranks 33rd of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.64 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $31,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| 25th percentile | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| Median | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| 75th percentile | $34,700 | $16.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $31,680 | $15.23 |
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 | $2,607.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,303.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,203.46 |
| Weekly | $601.73 |
| Hourly | $15.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in North Carolina
| 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 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,230 | n/a |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 North Carolina?
The median salary for cooks, short order in North Carolina is $31,290 a year, or $15.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in North Carolina earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $34,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,350 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,990 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in North Carolina?
About 3,170 cooks, short order are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.