How much does a cook make in Wilmington?
$29,620a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $14.24 an hour or $2,468 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.24
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 159 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 150
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,850Median: $29,620Highest 10%: $36,440
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,850 | $11.47 | |
| 25th | $28,280 | $13.60 | |
| Median | $29,620 | $14.24 | |
| 75th | $33,730 | $16.22 | |
| 90th | $36,440 | $17.52 |
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 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 |
| Hickory, NC | $29,230 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $27,830 |
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 |
| Cook | $34,940 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Wilmington?
The median hourly pay in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $14.24 ($29,620 a year).
Do cooks make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $29,620 against $35,880 nationally, 17% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,290, so Wilmington pays 5% less.
Where does Wilmington rank for cook pay?
159 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,850 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,440 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.