How much does a cook make in Wilmington?
$27,500a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro area. That is $13.22 an hour or $2,292 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.22
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 219 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 3,880
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,870Median: $27,500Highest 10%: $31,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,870 | $10.51 | |
| 25th | $22,740 | $10.93 | |
| Median | $27,500 | $13.22 | |
| 75th | $28,110 | $13.51 | |
| 90th | $31,650 | $15.22 |
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 |
| Hickory, NC | $27,550 |
| 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 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 $13.22 ($27,500 a year).
Do cooks make more in Wilmington than the national average?
No: $27,500 against $30,890 nationally, 11% less.
How does Wilmington compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $27,190, so Wilmington pays 1% more.
Where does Wilmington rank for cook pay?
219 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,870 or less a year; the top 10% make $31,650 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.