Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Asheville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,670 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Asheville earn between $30,370 and $43,410.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,000 | $3,083 | $17.79 |
| Median | $36,590 | $3,049 | $17.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,370 | $2,531 | $14.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,410 | $3,618 | $20.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Asheville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Asheville earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($35,140) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $37,000 | $36,590 | $29,070 | $46,670 | 2,480 |
| North Carolina | $35,140 | $35,400 | $27,980 | $45,450 | 50,150 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Asheville
On the average salary of $37,000, a single filer in Asheville takes home about $30,942 a year, or $2,578 a month and $1,190 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Asheville a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Asheville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $37,000 buys what about $38,340 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Asheville ($46,870). A typical home costs $428,742, or 11.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other North Carolina cities
Asheville ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($37,110).
- Charlotte$37,110
- Asheville$37,000
- Raleigh$36,350
- Durham$36,050
- Pinehurst$34,630
- Wilmington$34,140
- Greensboro$34,040
- Winston-Salem$33,630
- Burlington$33,300
- Greenville$33,130
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Restaurant salary in Asheville: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Asheville?
$17.79 an hour on average, and $17.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Asheville?
About $30,942 a year ($2,578 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,000.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Asheville than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area Asheville, NC (11700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.