Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Wilmington, NC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $34,940 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,369 take-home, or $2,447 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,013
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,166
- Medicare (1.45%)$507
- North Carolina income tax$885
- Take-home pay$29,369
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 Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,490 | $13.22 | $23,660 | $1,972 |
| 25th percentile | $29,180 | $14.03 | $24,971 | $2,081 |
| Median (50th) | $34,940 | $16.80 | $29,369 | $2,447 |
| 75th percentile | $36,710 | $17.65 | $30,720 | $2,560 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,620 | $21.45 | $36,761 | $3,063 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,940 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,369 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,459 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Wilmington, NC has 2.0× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Wilmington, NC ranks #92 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 |
| 92 | Wilmington, NC | $34,940 | $29,369 | $30,459 |
*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
- Raleigh, NC — $36,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Wilmington, NC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $34,940 a year, or about $16.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,180 and $36,710.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $34,940 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,369 a year ($2,447 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $885 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,459 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #92 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,610
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,460