How much does a cook make in Hickory?
$27,550a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area. That is $13.25 an hour or $2,296 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.25
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 217 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,650
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,810Median: $27,550Highest 10%: $34,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,810 | $10.49 | |
| 25th | $22,640 | $10.88 | |
| Median | $27,550 | $13.25 | |
| 75th | $29,180 | $14.03 | |
| 90th | $34,310 | $16.50 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $29,190 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $28,380 |
| Raleigh, NC | $28,220 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,120 |
| Greensboro, NC | $27,880 |
| Charlotte, NC | $27,690 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $29,230 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,150 |
| Dishwasher | $28,980 |
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 $13.25 ($27,550 a year).
Do cooks make more in Hickory than the national average?
No: $27,550 against $30,890 nationally, 11% less.
How does Hickory compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $27,190, so Hickory pays 1% more.
Where does Hickory rank for cook pay?
217 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,310 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.