Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area earn a median of $62,260 a year ($29.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,540 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $61,130. There are 2.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| 25th percentile | $49,870 | $23.98 |
| Median | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| 75th percentile | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,540 | $45.93 |
| Average (mean) | $66,530 | $31.99 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,188.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,594.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,394.62 |
| Weekly | $1,197.31 |
| Hourly | $29.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 | 270 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,190 | 820 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,400 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 | 290 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $59,480 | 110 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,160 | 280 |
| Wilmington, NC | $58,120 | 270 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $57,920 | 40 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 | 100 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 530 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 | 240 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,680 | $21.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,080 | $16.38 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,200 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,610 | $12.79 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,690 | $17.16 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Bartender | $37,700 | $18.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,790 | $14.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Dishwasher | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,200 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area is $62,260 a year, or $29.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area earn at least $95,540 a year. The top 25% earn $73,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,480 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,870 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC?
About 90 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.