Cooks, Fast Food · North Carolina

Cooks, Fast Food Salary in North Carolina

Cooks, Fast Food in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $27,190 —12.0% below the national median of $30,890. That ranks NC #44 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$27,190
Median hourly
$13.07
Entry level (P10)
$21,890
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$34,860
90th percentile
Employment
81,980
16.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-12.0%
U.S. $30,890

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$21,890
$22,740
$27,190
$29,190
$21,890$27,190$34,860
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $27,190.

Employment is 4.02× as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$48,120$23.14——
2District of Columbia$44,670$21.482,7600.96
3California$42,050$20.21124,4401.66
4Washington$39,120$18.819,0200.62
5New Hampshire$38,590$18.551,3300.47
6Vermont$38,230$18.386400.51
7Oregon$37,880$18.214,3000.53
8Massachusetts$37,870$18.21——
9Colorado$36,900$17.749,2200.78
10Maine$36,350$17.481,4700.56

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,570$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$32,150$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$35,400$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,010$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$30,260$35,320
Bartenders$36,470$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, fast food make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for cooks, fast food in North Carolina is $27,190, or $13.07 per hour. That is 12.0% below the national median of $30,890.

What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $21,890 per year ($10.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $22,740.

How many people work as cooks, fast food in North Carolina?

About 81,980 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 16.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for cooks, fast food?

North Carolina ranks #44 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 4.02x as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, fast food the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $48,120 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($44,670) and California ($42,050).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes