How much does a cook make in Wilmington?
$36,050a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $17.33 an hour or $3,004 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.33
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 228 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,440Median: $36,050Highest 10%: $45,980
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,440 | $13.67 | |
| 25th | $31,730 | $15.25 | |
| Median | $36,050 | $17.33 | |
| 75th | $38,050 | $18.29 | |
| 90th | $45,980 | $22.11 |
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 |
| 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 Wilmington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,120 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,360 |
| Bartender | $37,890 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Wilmington?
The median hourly pay in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $17.33 ($36,050 a year).
Do cooks make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $36,050 against $37,450 nationally, 4% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $36,140, so Wilmington pays 0% more.
Where does Wilmington rank for cook pay?
228 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,440 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,980 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.