How much does a cook make in Hickory?
$35,130a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $16.89 an hour or $2,928 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.89
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 269 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 350
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,590Median: $35,130Highest 10%: $43,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,590 | $12.78 | |
| 25th | $30,190 | $14.51 | |
| Median | $35,130 | $16.89 | |
| 75th | $37,470 | $18.01 | |
| 90th | $43,120 | $20.73 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $38,970 |
| 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 |
| Burlington, NC | $34,860 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,840 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $33,820 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $33,560 |
Related jobs in Hickory
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,780 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Hickory?
The median hourly pay in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $16.89 ($35,130 a year).
Do cooks make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $35,130 against $37,450 nationally, 6% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $36,140, so Hickory pays 3% less.
Where does Hickory rank for cook pay?
269 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,120 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.