How much does a cook make in Asheville?
$36,590a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Asheville, NC metro area. That is $17.59 an hour or $3,049 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.59
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 155 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,480
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,070Median: $36,590Highest 10%: $46,670
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,070 | $13.98 | |
| 25th | $30,370 | $14.60 | |
| Median | $36,590 | $17.59 | |
| 75th | $43,410 | $20.87 | |
| 90th | $46,670 | $22.44 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charlotte, NC | $37,030 |
| Raleigh, NC | $36,280 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $36,280 |
| Durham, NC | $36,170 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $35,690 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,940 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,600 |
| Greensboro, NC | $34,550 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,130 |
| Burlington, NC | $32,830 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $32,720 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $32,420 |
| Hickory, NC | $30,380 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $29,580 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $29,070 |
Related jobs in Asheville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,960 |
| Cook | $37,550 |
| Bartender | $35,380 |
| Food Server | $35,040 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,450 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,110 |
| Dishwasher | $31,860 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,450 |
| Host and Hostess | $30,090 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Asheville?
The median hourly pay in the Asheville, NC metro area is $17.59 ($36,590 a year).
Do cooks make more in Asheville than the national average?
No: $36,590 against $37,390 nationally, 2% less.
How does Asheville compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Asheville pays 3% more.
Where does Asheville rank for cook pay?
155 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,670 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.