SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Goldsboro
Goldsboro, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Goldsboro, NC is $22,510 per year, substantially below the national median of $30,890 — a gap of 27.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Goldsboro, NC is $22,510 per year, substantially below the national median of $30,890 — a gap of 27.1%. Pay ranges from under $18,930 at the tenth percentile to more than $28,900 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,390 to $27,630.
Employment stands at 1,110, or 27.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 193rd of 194 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,930 | −38.7% |
| 25th | $21,390 | −30.8% |
| Median (50th) | $22,510 | −27.1% |
| 75th | $27,630 | −10.6% |
| 90th | $28,900 | −6.4% |
| Mean | $24,210 | −21.6% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | $29,190 | 4,520 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $28,220 | 11,500 | |
| 3 | Asheville | $28,120 | 2,570 | |
| 4 | Greensboro | $27,880 | 6,850 | |
| 5 | Charlotte | $27,690 | 15,830 | |
| 6 | Hickory | $27,550 | 2,650 | |
| 7 | Wilmington | $27,500 | 3,880 | |
| 8 | Burlington | $27,450 | 1,680 | |
| 9 | Winston-Salem | $27,280 | 6,120 | |
| 10 | Pinehurst | $26,610 | 730 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Goldsboro run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $22,510 goes as far as $23,871 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$23,871US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,510 a year, 27.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,930 to $28,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $29,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Goldsboro, NC?
The median annual wage is $22,510, or $10.82 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 $30,890, so pay in Goldsboro, NC is 27.1% 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 Goldsboro, NC earns more than $28,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,930 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 $29,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,110 jobs in this occupation in Goldsboro, 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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