Salaries › Fast Food Cook › North Carolina
Fast Food Cook Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$13.07 per hour · take-home ≈ $23,425/year ($1,952/month) for a single filer
North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 14% below the national average. Of the 81,980 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in North Carolina, the typical worker earns $27,190 a year — though pay ranges from $21,890 for newcomers to $34,860 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $21,890 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $22,740 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,190 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $29,190 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $34,860 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 81,980 Fast Food Cook jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $27,190 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 $23,425 — an effective tax rate of 13.8%.
| Gross (median) | $27,190 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,109 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,080 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$576 |
| Take-home (annual) | $23,425 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,952 |
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 Fast Food Cook make in North Carolina?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in North Carolina is $27,190 per year ($13.07 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $22,740 and $29,190.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $27,190, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $23,425 per year ($1,952 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 13.8%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 81,980 Fast Food Cook jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food 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.