SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC · 10 metro areas compared
In Winston-Salem, NC the median wage is $27,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Winston-Salem, NC the median wage is $27,280. That is 11.7% lower than the national median of $30,890. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $23,010 and $29,130. The lowest tenth earn under $22,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,880.
The area has 6,120 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 22.5 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Durham records the highest median at $29,190. Of the 468 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 462nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | −28.7% |
| 25th | $23,010 | −25.5% |
| Median (50th) | $27,280 | −11.7% |
| 75th | $29,130 | −5.7% |
| 90th | $34,880 | +12.9% |
| Mean | $27,190 | −12.0% |
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 | Pinehurst | $26,610 | 730 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $23,710 | 1,260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Winston-Salem run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $27,280 goes as far as $28,929 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,929US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,280 a year, 11.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,030 to $34,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,120 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 Winston-Salem, NC?
The median annual wage is $27,280, or $13.12 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 Winston-Salem, NC is 11.7% 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 Winston-Salem, NC earns more than $34,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,030 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 6,120 jobs in this occupation in Winston-Salem, 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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