Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Charlotte, NC
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $37,690 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,469 take-home, or $2,622 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,337
- Medicare (1.45%)$547
- North Carolina income tax$995
- Take-home pay$31,469
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,590 | $13.75 | $24,520 | $2,043 |
| 25th percentile | $34,610 | $16.64 | $29,117 | $2,426 |
| Median (50th) | $37,690 | $18.12 | $31,469 | $2,622 |
| 75th percentile | $40,780 | $19.61 | $33,828 | $2,819 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,100 | $22.16 | $37,891 | $3,158 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,690 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $31,469 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,326 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are less concentrated in Charlotte, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #22 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $37,690 | $31,469 | $32,326 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Charlotte, NC?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $37,690 a year, or about $18.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,610 and $40,780.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $37,690 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $31,469 a year ($2,622 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $995 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,326 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #22 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,280
- Bartender — $37,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,430
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,180
- Dishwasher — $31,920
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,550
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,690