How much does a cook make in Asheville?
$28,120a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Asheville, NC metro area. That is $13.52 an hour or $2,343 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.52
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 198 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,570
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,030Median: $28,120Highest 10%: $35,240
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| 25th | $23,510 | $11.30 | |
| Median | $28,120 | $13.52 | |
| 75th | $29,400 | $14.13 | |
| 90th | $35,240 | $16.94 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $29,190 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $28,380 |
| Raleigh, NC | $28,220 |
| Greensboro, NC | $27,880 |
| Charlotte, NC | $27,690 |
| Hickory, NC | $27,550 |
| Wilmington, NC | $27,500 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,450 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $27,280 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $26,610 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $23,710 |
| Greenville, NC | $23,600 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $23,430 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $22,900 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $22,510 |
Related jobs in Asheville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,960 |
| Cook | $37,550 |
| Cook | $36,590 |
| Bartender | $35,380 |
| Food Server | $35,040 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,450 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,110 |
| Dishwasher | $31,860 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $30,450 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Asheville?
The median hourly pay in the Asheville, NC metro area is $13.52 ($28,120 a year).
Do cooks make more in Asheville than the national average?
No: $28,120 against $30,890 nationally, 9% less.
How does Asheville compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $27,190, so Asheville pays 3% more.
Where does Asheville rank for cook pay?
198 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,030 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,240 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.