Cooks, Fast Food salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $29,190 a year ($14.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,610 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 7% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $27,190. There are 13 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $29,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,260 | $11.19 |
| 25th percentile | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Median | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| 75th percentile | $30,290 | $14.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Average (mean) | $29,290 | $14.08 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,432.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,216.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,122.69 |
| Weekly | $561.35 |
| Hourly | $14.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,190 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.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,380 | 5,030 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $28,220 | 11,500 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,120 | 2,570 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $27,880 | 6,850 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $27,690 | 15,830 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,550 | 2,650 |
| Wilmington, NC | $27,500 | 3,880 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,450 | 1,680 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $27,280 | 6,120 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $26,610 | 730 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $23,710 | 1,260 |
| Greenville, NC | $23,600 | 1,780 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $23,430 | 3,890 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $22,900 | 1,830 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $22,510 | 1,110 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $29,190 a year, or $14.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $35,610 a year. The top 25% earn $30,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,260 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $26,870 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 4,520 cooks, fast food are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.