Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › North Carolina
Cafeteria Cook Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$17.38 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,285/year ($2,524/month) for a single filer
North Carolina ranks 35th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 5% below the national average. Of the 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in North Carolina, the typical worker earns $36,140 a year — though pay ranges from $28,050 for newcomers to $45,130 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,050 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,290 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,140 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $39,610 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,130 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $36,140 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,285 — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
| Gross (median) | $36,140 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,157 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,765 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$933 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,285 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,524 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in North Carolina?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in North Carolina is $36,140 per year ($17.38 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,290 and $39,610.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $36,140, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $30,285 per year ($2,524 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.