Baker Salary in Raleigh, NC
Bakers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $36,210 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,339 take-home, or $2,528 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,165
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,245
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- North Carolina income tax$936
- Take-home pay$30,339
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Baker pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,270 | $10.23 | $18,786 | $1,565 |
| 25th percentile | $28,470 | $13.69 | $24,428 | $2,036 |
| Median (50th) | $36,210 | $17.41 | $30,339 | $2,528 |
| 75th percentile | $38,810 | $18.66 | $32,324 | $2,694 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,090 | $22.16 | $37,883 | $3,157 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,210 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 baker's $30,339 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,908 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of baker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #55 of 98 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $40,880 | $35,027 | $38,296 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $42,770 | $36,546 | $36,420 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,470 | $35,064 | $34,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | $31,676 | $34,543 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $34,288 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,150 | $37,986 | $34,234 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,890 | $34,232 | $34,158 |
| 55 | Raleigh, NC | $36,210 | $30,339 | $30,908 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 98 metros →
Baker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $34,950
- Asheville, NC — $36,270
- Charlotte, NC — $36,580
- Winston, NC — $33,640
- Durham, NC — $35,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Raleigh, NC?
The median baker salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $36,210 a year, or about $17.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,470 and $38,810.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $36,210 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $30,339 a year ($2,528 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $936 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,908 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #55 of 98 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker 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 baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,230
- Machinist — $61,430
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,940
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,460
- Food Processing Workers, All Other — $48,600
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,520
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $48,480
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $45,210
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,510
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $39,020
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $38,080
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $32,000