Cooks, Short Order salary in Wilmington, NC
Cooks, Short Order in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $29,620 a year ($14.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,440 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 5% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $31,290. There are 0.76 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,850 | $11.47 |
| 25th percentile | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Median | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| 75th percentile | $33,730 | $16.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Average (mean) | $30,790 | $14.80 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,468.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,234.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,139.23 |
| Weekly | $569.62 |
| Hourly | $14.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,620 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,040 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,600 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $31,200 | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,700 | 260 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 | 170 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,230 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $27,830 | 810 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Bartender | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,320 | $13.14 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,120 | $27.94 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. 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, short order make in Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $29,620 a year, or $14.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $36,440 a year. The top 25% earn $33,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,850 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $28,280 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Wilmington, NC?
About 150 cooks, short order are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.