Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,670 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Durham earn between $52,660 and $76,760.
- $47K10th
- $53K25th
- $66KMedian
- $77K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,430 | $5,702 | $32.90 |
| Median | $66,090 | $5,508 | $31.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,660 | $4,388 | $25.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,760 | $6,397 | $36.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Durham earn 7% more than the North Carolina average ($63,960) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $68,430 | $66,090 | $47,440 | $93,670 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $63,960 | $61,130 | $38,210 | $92,210 | 4,920 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $68,430, a single filer in Durham takes home about $54,749 a year, or $4,562 a month and $2,106 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $68,430 buys what about $70,133 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 13 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($68,430).
- Charlotte$68,430
- Durham$68,430
- Pinehurst$66,530
- Raleigh$63,990
- Greensboro$63,330
- Asheville$62,210
- Rocky Mount$61,160
- Wilmington$61,010
- Greenville$60,790
- Hickory$59,850
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Durham: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Durham?
$32.90 an hour on average, and $31.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Durham?
About $54,749 a year ($4,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,430.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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