Cook salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in North Carolina earns a median of $35,400 a year ($17.02/hour equivalent), 5.3% below the national median of $37,390. North Carolina ranks #40 of 51 states. About 50,150 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $29,720 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $1,143 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,361.54
- Federal income tax
- −$79.54
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.42
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.74
- North Carolina income tax
- −$34.76
- Take-home pay
- $1,143.08
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,400
- Federal
- $2,068
- FICA
- $2,708
- State + local
- $904
- Net
- $29,720
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- 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 | Washington | $46,800 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $45,420 |
| #5 | Vermont | $45,390 |
| #40 | North Carolina | $35,400 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $29,590 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,560 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $29,050 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $35,400 a year and the average is $35,140 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for cooks?
North Carolina ranks #40 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% below the national median of $37,390.
What is $35,400 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $29,720 a year ($1,143 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.