Quick answer
Restaurant Cooks in North Carolina earned a median of $35,400 a year ($17.02 an hour) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $37,390; 50,150 were employed there, ranking #41 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $35,400 | $37,390 |
| Mean annual wage | $35,140 | $38,730 |
| Median hourly wage | $17.02 | $17.98 |
| 10th percentile | $27,980 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | $34,010 |
| 75th percentile | $38,170 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $45,450 | $47,900 |
| Employment | 50,150 | 1,409,890 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 10.148 | — |
| Location quotient | 1.12 | 1.00 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.