How much does a cook make in Durham?
$35,040a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $16.85 an hour or $2,920 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.85
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 88 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 150
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,640Median: $35,040Highest 10%: $45,670
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,640 | $14.25 | |
| 25th | $31,600 | $15.19 | |
| Median | $35,040 | $16.85 | |
| 75th | $38,010 | $18.27 | |
| 90th | $45,670 | $21.96 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Charlotte, NC | $34,600 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $36,170 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 |
| 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 $16.85 ($35,040 a year).
Do cooks make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $35,040 against $35,880 nationally, 2% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,290, so Durham pays 12% more.
Where does Durham rank for cook pay?
88 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,640 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,670 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.