How much does a cook make in Charlotte?
$37,690a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. That is $18.12 an hour or $3,141 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.12
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 146 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 3,090
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,590Median: $37,690Highest 10%: $46,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,590 | $13.75 | |
| 25th | $34,610 | $16.64 | |
| Median | $37,690 | $18.12 | |
| 75th | $40,780 | $19.61 | |
| 90th | $46,100 | $22.16 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $38,970 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $38,440 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,120 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,550 |
| Raleigh, NC | $37,460 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $37,200 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,670 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $36,470 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,050 |
| Greensboro, NC | $35,610 |
| Hickory, NC | $35,130 |
| Burlington, NC | $34,860 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,840 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $33,820 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,560 |
Related jobs in Charlotte
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,260 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,280 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Charlotte?
The median hourly pay in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $18.12 ($37,690 a year).
Do cooks make more in Charlotte than the national average?
Yes: $37,690 against $37,450 nationally, 1% more.
How does Charlotte compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $36,140, so Charlotte pays 4% more.
Where does Charlotte rank for cook pay?
146 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,100 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.