How much does a cook make in Charlotte?
$37,030a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. That is $17.80 an hour or $3,086 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.80
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 126 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 14,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,210Median: $37,030Highest 10%: $45,980
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,210 | $14.04 | |
| 25th | $30,250 | $14.54 | |
| Median | $37,030 | $17.80 | |
| 75th | $41,840 | $20.12 | |
| 90th | $45,980 | $22.11 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Asheville, NC | $36,590 |
| 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 Charlotte
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,260 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,280 |
| Cook | $37,690 |
| Bartender | $37,390 |
| 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 $17.80 ($37,030 a year).
Do cooks make more in Charlotte than the national average?
No: $37,030 against $37,390 nationally, 1% less.
How does Charlotte compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Charlotte pays 5% more.
Where does Charlotte rank for cook pay?
126 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,210 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.