Cooks, Fast Food Salary in North Carolina
Cooks, Fast Foods in North Carolina make a median of $26,750 a year, or about $12.86 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $31K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $27K get you in North Carolina?
About cooks, fast foods
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $31K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $29K | +8% | 4,440 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $28K | +6% | 18,560 |
| Winston-Salem | $28K | +3% | 6,370 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $27K | +3% | 10,610 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $27K | +2% | 7,850 |
| Asheville | $27K | +2% | 3,130 |
| Wilmington | $27K | -0% | 4,310 |
| Burlington | $27K | -0% | 1,750 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $26K | -3% | 720 |
| Fayetteville | $25K | -5% | 4,120 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $24K | -10% | 2,990 |
| Greenville | $24K | -11% | 2,110 |
| Jacksonville | $23K | -12% | 2,190 |
| Rocky Mount | $23K | -13% | 1,460 |
| Goldsboro | $23K | -16% | 1,060 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in North Carolina?
The median is $26,750 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,920, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $30,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,860/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 69% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, fast food salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $28,869 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.