Cooks, Restaurant Salary in North Carolina
Cooks, Restaurant in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $35,400 —5.3% below the national median of $37,390. That ranks NC #40 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (1.12×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $46,800 | $22.50 | 35,140 | 1.09 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 | $22.18 | 7,720 | 1.21 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 | $21.92 | 29,570 | 0.90 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $45,420 | $21.84 | 11,090 | 1.95 |
| 5 | Vermont | $45,390 | $21.82 | 2,360 | 0.86 |
| 6 | Maine | $45,290 | $21.78 | 5,130 | 0.88 |
| 7 | California | $44,880 | $21.58 | 152,250 | 0.92 |
| 8 | New York | $43,680 | $21.00 | 71,530 | 0.81 |
| 9 | Oregon | $43,100 | $20.72 | 21,550 | 1.21 |
| 10 | Colorado | $41,600 | $20.00 | 30,600 | 1.17 |
Related occupations in North Carolina
Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.
| Occupation | North Carolina median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $35,230 |
| 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 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $30,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for cooks, restaurant in North Carolina is $35,400, or $17.02 per hour. That is 5.3% below the national median of $37,390.
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in North Carolina?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $27,980 per year ($13.45/hour). The 25th percentile is $29,690.
How many people work as cooks, restaurant in North Carolina?
About 50,150 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 10.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is North Carolina a good state for cooks, restaurant?
North Carolina ranks #40 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.12x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays cooks, restaurant the most?
Washington has the highest median wage at $46,800 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($46,130) and Massachusetts ($45,600).