How much does a cook make in Hickory?
$30,380a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $14.61 an hour or $2,532 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.61
- Vs. national median
- -19%
- Rank among cities
- 335 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,720Median: $30,380Highest 10%: $42,630
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,720 | $13.33 | |
| 25th | $28,600 | $13.75 | |
| Median | $30,380 | $14.61 | |
| 75th | $36,230 | $17.42 | |
| 90th | $42,630 | $20.50 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $29,580 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $29,070 |
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 |
| Cook | $35,130 |
| Bartender | $31,860 |
| Food Server | $31,370 |
| 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 $14.61 ($30,380 a year).
Do cooks make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $30,380 against $37,390 nationally, 19% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Hickory pays 14% less.
Where does Hickory rank for cook pay?
335 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,630 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.