How much does a cook make in Raleigh?
$36,280a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $17.44 an hour or $3,023 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.44
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 179 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 7,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,350Median: $36,280Highest 10%: $45,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,350 | $14.11 | |
| 25th | $30,200 | $14.52 | |
| Median | $36,280 | $17.44 | |
| 75th | $38,940 | $18.72 | |
| 90th | $45,700 | $21.97 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charlotte, NC | $37,030 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,590 |
| 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 Raleigh
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,020 |
| Cook | $37,460 |
| Bartender | $36,120 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,860 |
| Food Server | $32,470 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 |
| Cook | $31,200 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,890 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Raleigh?
The median hourly pay in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $17.44 ($36,280 a year).
Do cooks make more in Raleigh than the national average?
No: $36,280 against $37,390 nationally, 3% less.
How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Raleigh pays 2% more.
Where does Raleigh rank for cook pay?
179 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,700 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.