Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Durham, NC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $29,190 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,978 take-home, or $2,082 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,810
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- North Carolina income tax$656
- Take-home pay$24,978
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,260 | $11.18 | $20,345 | $1,695 |
| 25th percentile | $26,870 | $12.92 | $23,174 | $1,931 |
| Median (50th) | $29,190 | $14.03 | $24,978 | $2,082 |
| 75th percentile | $30,290 | $14.56 | $25,818 | $2,152 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,610 | $17.12 | $29,881 | $2,490 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,190 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $24,978 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,600 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 3.2× the national concentration of cooks, fast food jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #120 of 174 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Merced, CA | $40,430 | $33,533 | $34,122 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $42,510 | $35,094 | $33,710 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | $36,550 | $33,694 |
| 8 | Hanford, CA | $41,280 | $34,171 | $33,629 |
| 120 | Durham, NC | $29,190 | $24,978 | $25,600 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 174 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Hickory, NC — $27,550
- Pinehurst, NC — $26,610
- Greensboro, NC — $27,880
- Winston, NC — $27,280
- Burlington, NC — $27,450
- Asheville, NC — $28,120
- Raleigh, NC — $28,220
- Wilmington, NC — $27,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Durham, NC?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $29,190 a year, or about $14.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,870 and $30,290.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $29,190 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,978 a year ($2,082 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $656 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,600 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #120 of 174 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 70% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,970
- Bartender — $37,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,500
- Dishwasher — $33,800
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,410