Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Winston, NC
Cooks, Fast Food in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median $27,280 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,495 take-home, or $1,958 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Winston, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,118
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,691
- Medicare (1.45%)$396
- North Carolina income tax$580
- Take-home pay$23,495
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.99% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Winston, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,030 | $10.59 | $19,381 | $1,615 |
| 25th percentile | $23,010 | $11.06 | $20,149 | $1,679 |
| Median (50th) | $27,280 | $13.12 | $23,495 | $1,958 |
| 75th percentile | $29,130 | $14.00 | $24,932 | $2,078 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,880 | $16.77 | $29,323 | $2,444 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,280 buys in Winston, NC
Prices in Winston, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $23,495 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,526 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Winston, NC has 5.5× 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
Winston, NC ranks #38 of 53 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 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $46,670 | $38,217 | $33,056 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $42,480 | $35,072 | $32,949 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $42,210 | $34,869 | $32,689 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $39,620 | $32,925 | $32,230 |
| 38 | Winston, NC | $27,280 | $23,495 | $25,526 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Hickory, NC — $27,550
- Greensboro, NC — $27,880
- Durham, NC — $29,190
- Asheville, NC — $28,120
- Raleigh, NC — $28,220
- Wilmington, NC — $27,500
- Charlotte, NC — $27,690
- Fayetteville, NC — $23,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Winston, NC?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $27,280 a year, or about $13.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,010 and $29,130.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Winston, NC?
On the median $27,280 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $23,495 a year ($1,958 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $580 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Winston, NC a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,526 would in a typical U.S. city. Winston, NC ranks #38 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Winston, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winston, NC is $1,031 a month ($1,164 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winston, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,550
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640