How much does a chef and head cook make in Hickory?
$59,480a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $28.60 an hour or $4,957 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.60
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 164 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 110
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,700Median: $59,480Highest 10%: $77,880
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,700 | $18.13 | |
| 25th | $46,800 | $22.50 | |
| Median | $59,480 | $28.60 | |
| 75th | $70,930 | $34.10 | |
| 90th | $77,880 | $37.44 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Durham, NC | $66,090 |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,260 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $62,260 |
| Raleigh, NC | $61,190 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,400 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 |
| 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 Hickory
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,780 |
| Cook | $35,130 |
| Bartender | $31,860 |
| Food Server | $31,370 |
| Cook | $30,380 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,310 |
| Cook | $29,230 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,150 |
| Dishwasher | $28,980 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,680 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Hickory?
The median hourly pay in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $28.60 ($59,480 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $59,480 against $62,470 nationally, 5% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $61,130, so Hickory pays 3% less.
Where does Hickory rank for chef and head cook pay?
164 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $77,880 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.