How much does a cook make in Durham?
$29,190a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $14.03 an hour or $2,433 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.03
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 151 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 4,520
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,260Median: $29,190Highest 10%: $35,610
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,260 | $11.18 | |
| 25th | $26,870 | $12.92 | |
| Median | $29,190 | $14.03 | |
| 75th | $30,290 | $14.56 | |
| 90th | $35,610 | $17.12 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Virginia Beach, VA | $28,380 |
| Raleigh, NC | $28,220 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,120 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $35,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Server | $34,500 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,480 |
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 $14.03 ($29,190 a year).
Do cooks make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $29,190 against $30,890 nationally, 6% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $27,190, so Durham pays 7% more.
Where does Durham rank for cook pay?
151 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,260 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,610 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.