How much does a cook make in Raleigh?
$31,200a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $15.00 an hour or $2,600 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.00
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 139 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,350Median: $31,200Highest 10%: $43,680
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,350 | $11.23 | |
| 25th | $23,350 | $11.23 | |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 75th | $37,440 | $18.00 | |
| 90th | $43,680 | $21.00 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $35,040 |
| Charlotte, NC | $34,600 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $36,280 |
| Bartender | $36,120 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,860 |
| Food Server | $32,470 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 |
| 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 $15.00 ($31,200 a year).
Do cooks make more in Raleigh than the national average?
No: $31,200 against $35,880 nationally, 13% less.
How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,290, so Raleigh pays 0% more.
Where does Raleigh rank for cook pay?
139 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,680 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.