How much does a cook make in Raleigh?
$28,220a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $13.57 an hour or $2,352 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.57
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 196 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 11,500
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,590Median: $28,220Highest 10%: $34,220
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,590 | $10.86 | |
| 25th | $24,180 | $11.63 | |
| Median | $28,220 | $13.57 | |
| 75th | $29,630 | $14.25 | |
| 90th | $34,220 | $16.45 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Durham, NC | $29,190 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $28,380 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $31,200 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,890 |
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 $13.57 ($28,220 a year).
Do cooks make more in Raleigh than the national average?
No: $28,220 against $30,890 nationally, 9% less.
How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $27,190, so Raleigh pays 4% more.
Where does Raleigh rank for cook pay?
196 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,220 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.