How much does a chef and head cook make in Charlotte?
$64,260a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. That is $30.89 an hour or $5,355 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.89
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 75 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 1,480
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $46,360Median: $64,260Highest 10%: $92,730
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,360 | $22.29 | |
| 25th | $58,020 | $27.89 | |
| Median | $64,260 | $30.89 | |
| 75th | $77,950 | $37.48 | |
| 90th | $92,730 | $44.58 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Durham, NC | $66,090 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $62,260 |
| Raleigh, NC | $61,190 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,400 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 |
| Hickory, NC | $59,480 |
| Greensboro, NC | $59,160 |
| Wilmington, NC | $58,120 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $57,730 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 |
Related jobs in Charlotte
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,280 |
| Cook | $37,690 |
| Bartender | $37,390 |
| Cook | $37,030 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,430 |
| Cook | $34,600 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,180 |
| Food Server | $33,550 |
| Dishwasher | $31,920 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $31,440 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Charlotte?
The median hourly pay in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $30.89 ($64,260 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Charlotte than the national average?
Yes: $64,260 against $62,470 nationally, 3% more.
How does Charlotte compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $61,130, so Charlotte pays 5% more.
Where does Charlotte rank for chef and head cook pay?
75 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $92,730 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.