Salaries › Cook › North Carolina
Cook Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$17.02 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,720/year ($2,477/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $27,980 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,400 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,170 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,450 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 50,150 Cook jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Cook salary of $35,400 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 $29,720 — an effective tax rate of 16.0%.
| Gross (median) | $35,400 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,068 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,708 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$904 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,720 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,477 |
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 Cook make in North Carolina?
- The median Cook salary in North Carolina is $35,400 per year ($17.02 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $29,690 and $38,170.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $35,400, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $29,720 per year ($2,477 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.0%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 50,150 Cook jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.