SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Hickory, NC is $27,550 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 10.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Hickory, NC is $27,550 a year, trailing the national median of $30,890 by 10.8%. Half of workers earn between $22,640 and $29,180. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,810 and the ninetieth at $34,310.
The area has 2,650 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 17.2 of every thousand jobs. 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 381st of 385 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,810 | −29.4% |
| 25th | $22,640 | −26.7% |
| Median (50th) | $27,550 | −10.8% |
| 75th | $29,180 | −5.5% |
| 90th | $34,310 | +11.1% |
| Mean | $26,810 | −13.2% |
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 | Wilmington | $27,500 | 3,880 | |
| 7 | Burlington | $27,450 | 1,680 | |
| 8 | Winston-Salem | $27,280 | 6,120 | |
| 9 | Pinehurst | $26,610 | 730 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $23,710 | 1,260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hickory run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $27,550 goes as far as $29,215 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,215US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,550 a year, 10.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,810 to $34,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,650 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 Hickory, NC?
The median annual wage is $27,550, or $13.25 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 Hickory, NC is 10.8% 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 Hickory, NC earns more than $34,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,810 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 2,650 jobs in this occupation in Hickory, 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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