How much does a cook make in Durham?
$38,970a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $18.74 an hour or $3,248 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.74
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 108 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 790
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,280Median: $38,970Highest 10%: $49,030
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,280 | $14.08 | |
| 25th | $34,760 | $16.71 | |
| Median | $38,970 | $18.74 | |
| 75th | $44,520 | $21.40 | |
| 90th | $49,030 | $23.57 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Virginia Beach, VA | $38,440 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,120 |
| Charlotte, NC | $37,690 |
| 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 Durham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,090 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,150 |
| Bartender | $37,110 |
| Cook | $36,170 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 |
| Cook | $35,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Server | $34,500 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,480 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Durham?
The median hourly pay in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $18.74 ($38,970 a year).
Do cooks make more in Durham than the national average?
Yes: $38,970 against $37,450 nationally, 4% more.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $36,140, so Durham pays 8% more.
Where does Durham rank for cook pay?
108 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $49,030 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.