Cooks, Restaurant pay in Winston-Salem
In Winston-Salem (NC), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.63 an hour ($34,600 a year). About 2,580 people work in this job there.
That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 2% lower than the North Carolina median ($35,400).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Winston-Salem (NC)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.25 | $27,570 |
| 25% of workers | $13.89 | $28,880 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.63 | $34,600 |
| 75% of workers | $17.58 | $36,570 |
| 90% of workers | $20.98 | $43,630 |
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 (this page) | $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 Winston-Salem (NC)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,280 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,580 |
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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.