Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · North Carolina

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in North Carolina

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $36,140 —3.5% below the national median of $37,450. That ranks NC #35 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$36,140
Median hourly
$17.38
Entry level (P10)
$28,050
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$45,130
90th percentile
Employment
11,170
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-3.5%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

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

10th percentile90th percentile
$28,050
$31,290
$36,140
$39,610
$28,050$36,140$45,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $36,140.

Employment is only 0.80× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

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

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

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, institution and cafeteria make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in North Carolina is $36,140, or $17.38 per hour. That is 3.5% below the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $28,050 per year ($13.48/hour). The 25th percentile is $31,290.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in North Carolina?

About 11,170 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 2.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

North Carolina ranks #35 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.80x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

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