Chef and Head Cook Salary in North Carolina
Median annual pay in North Carolina
$61,130
$29.39/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in North Carolina
$64,807
Regional Price Parity: 94.326 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($62,470): −$1,340 (−2.1%)
North Carolina ranks 29th of 51 states by median pay, and 23rd of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 25th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Median | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| 75th percentile | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| 90th percentile | $92,210 | $44.33 |
Employment
- Employment in North Carolina
- 4,920
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in North Carolina
- $61,130
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $62,470
- Difference
- −$1,340 (−2.1%)
Cost of living
$61,130 ÷ 94.326 × 100 = $64,807
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | ||
| 27th | $61,440 | $61,558 31st |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 28th | $61,300 | $65,147 21st |
| North Carolina This page | ||
| 29th | $61,130 | $64,807 23rd |
| West Virginia | ||
| 30th | $61,100 | $68,270 12th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 31st | $60,510 | $67,156 15th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Baker salary in the U.S.
$37,160/year U.S.
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
- Waiter and Waitress salary in the U.S.
$35,230/year U.S.
- Dietetic Technician salary in the U.S.
$37,640/year U.S.
- Food Preparation Worker salary in the U.S.
$35,320/year U.S.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +6.6%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Chef and Head Cook salary in nearby places
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Georgia
$66,230/year Georgia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in South Carolina
$71,860/year South Carolina
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Tennessee
$69,810/year Tennessee
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Virginia
$63,270/year Virginia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in the U.S.
$62,470/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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