SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 10 metro areas compared
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $30,380.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Hickory, NC the median wage is $30,380. That is 18.7% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay ranges from under $27,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $42,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,600 to $36,230.
The area has 1,410 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.01 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Charlotte records the highest median at $37,030. Of the 385 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 364th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,720 | −25.9% |
| 25th | $28,600 | −23.5% |
| Median (50th) | $30,380 | −18.7% |
| 75th | $36,230 | −3.1% |
| 90th | $42,630 | +14.0% |
| Mean | $32,880 | −12.1% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $37,030 | 14,430 | |
| 2 | Asheville | $36,590 | 2,480 | |
| 3 | Raleigh | $36,280 | 7,160 | |
| 4 | Durham | $36,170 | 2,660 | |
| 5 | Pinehurst | $35,690 | 670 | |
| 6 | Wilmington | $34,940 | 3,440 | |
| 7 | Winston-Salem | $34,600 | 2,580 | |
| 8 | Greensboro | $34,550 | 3,250 | |
| 9 | Greenville | $34,130 | 890 | |
| 10 | Burlington | $32,830 | 740 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hickory run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $30,380 goes as far as $32,216 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,216US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,380 a year, 18.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,720 to $42,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,410 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlotte, at $37,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Hickory, NC?
The median annual wage is $30,380, or $14.60 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 $37,390, so pay in Hickory, NC is 18.7% 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 Hickory, NC earns more than $42,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,720 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 Charlotte, at $37,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,410 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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