Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,620 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Wilmington earn between $29,180 and $36,710.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,140 | $2,845 | $16.41 |
| Median | $34,940 | $2,912 | $16.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,180 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,710 | $3,059 | $17.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($35,140) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $34,140 | $34,940 | $27,490 | $44,620 | 3,440 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $34,140, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $28,758 a year, or $2,397 a month and $1,106 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 Wilmington a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $34,140 buys what about $35,407 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 13.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 6th 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Wilmington?
$16.41 an hour on average, and $16.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $28,758 a year ($2,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,140.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.98, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.