Cooks, Restaurant salary in Durham, NC
The median cooks, restaurant in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC earns $36,170 a year, 3% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,475 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $29,400
- 25th percentile
- $30,290
- Median percentile
- $36,170
- 75th percentile
- $38,480
- 90th percentile
- $46,170
Based on 2,660 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
$29,705 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $36,170 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,160 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,767 |
| North Carolina income tax (approx.) | −$1,537 |
| Monthly take-home | $2,475 |
| Every two weeks | $1,143 |
Does it go far here?
$37,070Median pay in Durham, NC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 97.6 vs 100).
59%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,466 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in Durham, NC
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Sales Managers | $190,370 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $183,540 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $176,190 |
| Marketing Managers | $175,160 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $172,480 |
| Financial Managers | $165,470 |
| Human Resources Managers | $160,580 |
| Managers, All Other | $152,090 |
All cooks, restaurant salaries · Take-home pay in North Carolina