Cooks, Fast Food salary in North Carolina
Cooks, Fast Food in North Carolina earn a median of $27,190 a year ($13.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 81,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,860 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $30,890. North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 17 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,080, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,890 | $10.52 |
| 25th percentile | $22,740 | $10.93 |
| Median | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| 75th percentile | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Average (mean) | $27,080 | $13.02 |
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 | $2,265.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,132.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,045.77 |
| Weekly | $522.88 |
| Hourly | $13.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,190 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 cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $29,190 | 4,520 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| Cooks, All Other | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dishwasher | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in North Carolina is $27,190 a year, or $13.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in North Carolina earn at least $34,860 a year. The top 25% earn $29,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,740 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in North Carolina?
About 81,980 cooks, fast food are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.