Cook salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in North Carolina earns a median of $27,190 a year ($13.07/hour equivalent), 12.0% below the national median of $30,890. North Carolina ranks #44 of 51 states. About 81,980 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $23,425 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $901 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,045.77
- Federal income tax
- −$42.65
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$64.84
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.16
- North Carolina income tax
- −$22.16
- Take-home pay
- $900.95
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $27,190
- Federal
- $1,109
- FICA
- $2,080
- State + local
- $576
- Net
- $23,425
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How North Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $48,120 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| #3 | California | $42,050 |
| #4 | Washington | $39,120 |
| #5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| #44 | North Carolina | $27,190 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $23,500 |
| #50 | West Virginia | $23,120 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,670 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $27,190 a year and the average is $27,080 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for cooks?
North Carolina ranks #44 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 12% below the national median of $30,890.
What is $27,190 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $23,425 a year ($901 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.