Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias in North Carolina make a median of $36,140 a year, or about $17.38 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $39,003 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 51.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in North Carolina?
About cooks, institution and cafeterias
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Cooks, institution and cafeteria pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 52.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level cooks, institution and cafeterias (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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 | $39K | +8% | 790 |
| Goldsboro | $38K | +5% | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $38K | +4% | 3,090 |
| Asheville | $38K | +4% | 430 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $37K | +4% | 1,060 |
| Fayetteville | $37K | +3% | 360 |
| Winston-Salem | $37K | +1% | 860 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $36K | +1% | 140 |
| Wilmington | $36K | -0% | 360 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $36K | -1% | 1,030 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $35K | -3% | 350 |
| Burlington | $35K | -4% | 150 |
| Greenville | $35K | -4% | 220 |
| Jacksonville | $34K | -6% | 240 |
| Rocky Mount | $34K | -7% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, institution and cafeteria salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 52.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cooks, institution and cafeterias in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cooks, institution and cafeterias typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,683/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cooks, institution and cafeteria a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for cooks, institution and cafeterias?
North Carolina pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cooks, institution and cafeterias make in North Carolina?
The median is $36,140 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,050, and experienced cooks, institution and cafeterias can clear $45,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,454/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 52.3% 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, institution and cafeteria salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary is worth about $39,003 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, institution and cafeterias 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.