Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Raleigh, NC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $36,280 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,392 take-home, or $2,533 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,174
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,249
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- North Carolina income tax$939
- Take-home pay$30,392
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,350 | $14.11 | $25,100 | $2,092 |
| 25th percentile | $30,200 | $14.52 | $25,749 | $2,146 |
| Median (50th) | $36,280 | $17.44 | $30,392 | $2,533 |
| 75th percentile | $38,940 | $18.72 | $32,423 | $2,702 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,700 | $21.97 | $37,585 | $3,132 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,280 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,392 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,963 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Raleigh, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #79 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 79 | Raleigh, NC | $36,280 | $30,392 | $30,963 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $37,030
- Asheville, NC — $36,590
- Winston, NC — $34,600
- Greensboro, NC — $34,550
- Durham, NC — $36,170
- Wilmington, NC — $34,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Raleigh, NC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $36,280 a year, or about $17.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,200 and $38,940.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $36,280 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $30,392 a year ($2,533 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $939 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,963 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #79 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,020
- Bartender — $36,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,150
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,080
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,220