SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Central North Carolina
Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
At $61,090, median pay for Chefs and Head Cooks in Central North Carolina, NC tracks the national median of $62,470 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $61,090, median pay for Chefs and Head Cooks in Central North Carolina, NC tracks the national median of $62,470 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $50,250 and $86,670. The lowest tenth earn under $43,500, while the highest tenth earn more than $92,710.
Employment stands at 130, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 133rd of 438 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,500 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $50,250 | −19.6% |
| Median (50th) | $61,090 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $86,670 | +38.7% |
| 90th | $92,710 | +48.4% |
| Mean | $66,780 | +6.9% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | $66,090 | 270 | |
| 2 | Charlotte | $64,260 | 1,480 | |
| 3 | Pinehurst | $62,260 | 90 | |
| 4 | Raleigh | $61,190 | 820 | |
| 5 | Greenville | $60,400 | 80 | |
| 6 | Asheville | $60,390 | 290 | |
| 7 | Hickory | $59,480 | 110 | |
| 8 | Greensboro | $59,160 | 280 | |
| 9 | Wilmington | $58,120 | 270 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $57,920 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Central North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $61,090 goes as far as $64,783 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,783US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,090 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,500 to $92,710 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $66,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Central North Carolina, NC?
The median annual wage is $61,090, or $29.37 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Central North Carolina, NC is 2.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Central North Carolina, NC earns more than $92,710 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,500 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Durham, at $66,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Central North Carolina, NC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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