Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,790 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Wilmington earn between $44,830 and $71,880.
- $38K10th
- $45K25th
- $58KMedian
- $72K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,010 | $5,084 | $29.33 |
| Median | $58,120 | $4,843 | $27.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,830 | $3,736 | $21.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,880 | $5,990 | $34.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Wilmington earn 5% less than the North Carolina average ($63,960) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $61,010 | $58,120 | $38,210 | $87,790 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $63,960 | $61,130 | $38,210 | $92,210 | 4,920 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Wilmington
On the average salary of $61,010, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $49,276 a year, or $4,106 a month and $1,895 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 chefs and head cooks? 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 $61,010 buys what about $63,274 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 8th of 13 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($68,430).
- Charlotte$68,430
- Durham$68,430
- Pinehurst$66,530
- Raleigh$63,990
- Greensboro$63,330
- Asheville$62,210
- Rocky Mount$61,160
- Wilmington$61,010
- Greenville$60,790
- Hickory$59,850
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Wilmington: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Wilmington?
$29.33 an hour on average, and $27.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $49,276 a year ($4,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,010.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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