How much does a cook make in Durham?
$36,170a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $17.39 an hour or $3,014 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.39
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 188 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,660
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,400Median: $36,170Highest 10%: $46,170
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,400 | $14.13 | |
| 25th | $30,290 | $14.56 | |
| Median | $36,170 | $17.39 | |
| 75th | $38,480 | $18.50 | |
| 90th | $46,170 | $22.20 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charlotte, NC | $37,030 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,590 |
| Raleigh, NC | $36,280 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $36,280 |
| 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 Durham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,090 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,150 |
| Cook | $38,970 |
| Bartender | $37,110 |
| 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 $17.39 ($36,170 a year).
Do cooks make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $36,170 against $37,390 nationally, 3% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Durham pays 2% more.
Where does Durham rank for cook pay?
188 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,170 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.