Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Pinehurst, NC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area earn a median $26,610 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,970 take-home, or $1,914 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Pinehurst, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,051
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,650
- Medicare (1.45%)$386
- North Carolina income tax$553
- Take-home pay$22,970
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.99% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Pinehurst, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,210 | $10.20 | $18,739 | $1,562 |
| 25th percentile | $21,870 | $10.51 | $19,256 | $1,605 |
| Median (50th) | $26,610 | $12.79 | $22,970 | $1,914 |
| 75th percentile | $28,430 | $13.67 | $24,396 | $2,033 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,840 | $16.27 | $28,529 | $2,377 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,610 buys in Pinehurst, NC
Prices in Pinehurst, NC are 11.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $22,970 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,003 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pinehurst, NC has 4.1× 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
Pinehurst, NC ranks #104 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 |
| 104 | Pinehurst, NC | $26,610 | $22,970 | $26,003 |
*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
- Greensboro, NC — $27,880
- Durham, NC — $29,190
- 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 Pinehurst, NC?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area is $26,610 a year, or about $12.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,870 and $28,430.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Pinehurst, NC?
On the median $26,610 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $22,970 a year ($1,914 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $553 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Pinehurst, NC a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 11.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,003 would in a typical U.S. city. Pinehurst, NC ranks #104 of 174 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Pinehurst, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pinehurst, NC is $1,239 a month ($1,358 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pinehurst, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,680
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,690
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,200