Restaurant Cook Salary in Raleigh, NC
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Raleigh area earns $36,280 a year ($17.44 an hour), 3% below the U.S. median ($37,390) and 2% above the North Carolina median ($35,400). Half of the 7,160 restaurant cooks there earn between $30,200 and $38,940.
Median $36,280
10th: $29,35090th: $45,700
| Annual pay | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,350 | $27,980 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $30,200 | $29,690 | $34,010 |
| Median | $36,280 | $35,400 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $38,940 | $38,170 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $45,700 | $45,450 | $47,900 |
| Average | $36,350 | $35,140 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 7,160 | 50,150 | 1,409,890 |
Raleigh, NC ranks 42nd of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Charlotte, NC: $37,030
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- Los Angeles, CA: $44,460
- All cities
Similar jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Food Preparation Worker: $29,470
- Fast Food Worker: $29,080
- Waiter: $34,860
- Food Service Supervisor: $46,020
- Bartender: $36,120
- All jobs in Raleigh, NC
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.