Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,880 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Hickory earn between $46,800 and $70,930.
- $38K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $71K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,850 | $4,988 | $28.77 |
| Median | $59,480 | $4,957 | $28.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,800 | $3,900 | $22.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,930 | $5,911 | $34.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($63,960) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $59,850 | $59,480 | $37,700 | $77,880 | 110 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $59,850, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $48,390 a year, or $4,033 a month and $1,861 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $59,850 buys what about $67,638 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 10th 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 Hickory: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Hickory?
$28.77 an hour on average, and $28.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Hickory?
About $48,390 a year ($4,033 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,850.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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