How much does a chef and head cook make in Wilmington?
$58,120a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $27.94 an hour or $4,843 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.94
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 186 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,210Median: $58,120Highest 10%: $87,790
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,210 | $18.37 | |
| 25th | $44,830 | $21.55 | |
| Median | $58,120 | $27.94 | |
| 75th | $71,880 | $34.56 | |
| 90th | $87,790 | $42.21 |
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 |
| Hickory, NC | $59,480 |
| Greensboro, NC | $59,160 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $57,730 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 |
Related jobs in Wilmington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,360 |
| Bartender | $37,890 |
| Cook | $36,050 |
| Cook | $34,940 |
| Food Server | $34,810 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,830 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,610 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,350 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 |
| Cook | $29,620 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Wilmington?
The median hourly pay in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $27.94 ($58,120 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $58,120 against $62,470 nationally, 7% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $61,130, so Wilmington pays 5% less.
Where does Wilmington rank for chef and head cook pay?
186 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $87,790 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.