Cooks, Restaurant pay in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.02 an hour ($35,400 a year). About 50,150 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in North Carolina
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.45 | $27,980 |
| 25% of workers | $14.28 | $29,690 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.02 | $35,400 |
| 75% of workers | $18.35 | $38,170 |
| 90% of workers | $21.85 | $45,450 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in North Carolina metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $37,030 | 14,430 |
| Asheville | $36,590 | 2,480 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $36,280 | 7,160 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $36,170 | 2,660 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $35,690 | 670 |
| Wilmington | $34,940 | 3,440 |
| Winston-Salem | $34,600 | 2,580 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $34,550 | 3,250 |
| Greenville | $34,130 | 890 |
| Burlington | $32,830 | 740 |
| Fayetteville | $32,720 | 1,210 |
| Goldsboro | $32,420 | 420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $30,380 | 1,410 |
| Jacksonville | $29,580 | 730 |
| Rocky Mount | $29,070 | 420 |
North Carolina unemployment rate: 3.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,260 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 |
| Bakers | $34,510 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 |
| Food Batchmakers | $36,590 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,240 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.