Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Charlotte, NC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $37,030 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,965 take-home, or $2,580 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,264
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,296
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- North Carolina income tax$969
- Take-home pay$30,965
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, Restaurant pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.04 | $24,993 | $2,083 |
| 25th percentile | $30,250 | $14.54 | $25,788 | $2,149 |
| Median (50th) | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,965 | $2,580 |
| 75th percentile | $41,840 | $20.12 | $34,638 | $2,886 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,980 | $22.11 | $37,799 | $3,150 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,030 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, restaurant's $30,965 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,808 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, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #53 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 53 | Charlotte, NC | $37,030 | $30,965 | $31,808 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $36,590
- Winston, NC — $34,600
- Greensboro, NC — $34,550
- Durham, NC — $36,170
- Raleigh, NC — $36,280
- Wilmington, NC — $34,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Charlotte, NC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $37,030 a year, or about $17.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,250 and $41,840.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $37,030 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $30,965 a year ($2,580 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $969 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,808 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #53 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 55% of a median cooks, restaurant’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
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,690
- Bartender — $37,390
- 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