How much does a cook make in Hickory?
$29,230a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $14.05 an hour or $2,436 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.05
- Vs. national median
- -19%
- Rank among cities
- 166 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,040Median: $29,230Highest 10%: $35,920
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,040 | $11.08 | |
| 25th | $25,750 | $12.38 | |
| Median | $29,230 | $14.05 | |
| 75th | $31,960 | $15.37 | |
| 90th | $35,920 | $17.27 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $35,040 |
| Charlotte, NC | $34,600 |
| Raleigh, NC | $31,200 |
| Greensboro, NC | $29,700 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,620 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $27,830 |
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 |
| Cook | $30,380 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,310 |
| 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 $14.05 ($29,230 a year).
Do cooks make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $29,230 against $35,880 nationally, 19% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,290, so Hickory pays 7% less.
Where does Hickory rank for cook pay?
166 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,920 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.