How much does a cook make in Charlotte?
$34,600a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area. That is $16.63 an hour or $2,883 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.63
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 99 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,510Median: $34,600Highest 10%: $39,350
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,510 | $14.19 | |
| 25th | $30,540 | $14.68 | |
| Median | $34,600 | $16.63 | |
| 75th | $37,290 | $17.93 | |
| 90th | $39,350 | $18.92 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $35,040 |
| Raleigh, NC | $31,200 |
| Greensboro, NC | $29,700 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,620 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 |
| Hickory, NC | $29,230 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $27,830 |
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 |
| Cook | $37,030 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,430 |
| 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 $16.63 ($34,600 a year).
Do cooks make more in Charlotte than the national average?
No: $34,600 against $35,880 nationally, 4% less.
How does Charlotte compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,290, so Charlotte pays 11% more.
Where does Charlotte rank for cook pay?
99 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,510 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,350 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.