North Carolina Median
$61,130
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.39
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $62,470
State Rank
#29 of 51
4,920 employed here
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in North Carolina?
Chefs and Head Cooks in North Carolina take home a median of $61,130 annually — roughly $29.39 an hour — which runs 2% below the national median of $62,470.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $38,210 while the top 10% make $92,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,360 and $76,330 a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,360 | $23.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,130 | $29.39 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $76,330 | $36.70 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,210 | $44.33 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories for Chefs and Head Cooks pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other states
Rhode Island $79,930Hawaii $77,360District of Columbia $76,420Washington $76,010North Dakota $74,740New Jersey $74,280Wyoming $73,170South Carolina $71,860New York $70,670Tennessee $69,810Massachusetts $69,540Georgia $66,230Vermont $65,440Colorado $65,400California $64,500Missouri $64,480Connecticut $64,310Pennsylvania $63,860Oregon $63,600New Hampshire $63,400Virginia $63,270Minnesota $62,600Alabama $62,400Nevada $62,380New Mexico $62,250Maryland $61,590Delaware $61,440Wisconsin $61,300West Virginia $61,100Nebraska $60,510Michigan $60,070Arizona $59,890Utah $59,060Illinois $58,830Oklahoma $58,540Kansas $58,390Florida $58,240Montana $57,470Maine $57,010Texas $56,080Mississippi $54,850Ohio $53,990Alaska $52,190Indiana $52,190Idaho $52,000South Dakota $48,470Kentucky $48,070Iowa $47,990Arkansas $46,170Louisiana $45,570
Working as Chefs and Head Cooks in North Carolina
Nationally, about 200,000 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($61,130) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in North Carolina?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in North Carolina is $61,130 per year, or about $29.39 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,210 at the entry level to $92,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Chefs and Head Cooks about 2% less than the national median of $62,470. North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $61,130 a year. About 4,920 Chefs and Head Cooks are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chefs and Head Cooks salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.