Cooks, Restaurant salary in Burlington, NC

The median cooks, restaurant in Burlington, NC earns $32,830 a year, 12% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,264 a month.

10th percentile: $27,560
25th percentile: $28,760
Median percentile: $32,830
75th percentile: $36,460
90th percentile: $43,110

Based on 740 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$27,164 take-home a year

Gross pay	$32,830
Federal income tax	−$1,760
Social Security + Medicare	−$2,511
North Carolina income tax (approx.)	−$1,395
Monthly take-home	$2,264
Every two weeks	$1,045

Does it go far here?

$35,227Median pay in Burlington, NC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 93.2 vs 100).

47%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,064 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Burlington, NC

Job	Median pay
General and Operations Managers	$94,250
Registered Nurses	$84,180
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$66,890
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$59,430
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$56,740
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$56,290
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	$54,220
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	$51,000

All cooks, restaurant salaries · Take-home pay in North Carolina