How much does a cook make in Wilmington?
$34,940a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $16.80 an hour or $2,912 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.80
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 263 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 3,440
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,490Median: $34,940Highest 10%: $44,620
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,490 | $13.22 | |
| 25th | $29,180 | $14.03 | |
| Median | $34,940 | $16.80 | |
| 75th | $36,710 | $17.65 | |
| 90th | $44,620 | $21.45 |
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 |
| 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 Wilmington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,120 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,360 |
| Bartender | $37,890 |
| Cook | $36,050 |
| Food Server | $34,810 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,830 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,610 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,350 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 |
| Cook | $29,620 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Wilmington?
The median hourly pay in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $16.80 ($34,940 a year).
Do cooks make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $34,940 against $37,390 nationally, 7% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $35,400, so Wilmington pays 1% less.
Where does Wilmington rank for cook pay?
263 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,490 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,620 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.