Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,310 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Hickory earn between $22,640 and $29,180.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $28KMedian
- $29K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,810 | $2,234 | $12.89 |
| Median | $27,550 | $2,296 | $13.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,640 | $1,887 | $10.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,180 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($27,080) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $26,810 | $27,550 | $21,810 | $34,310 | 2,650 |
| North Carolina | $27,080 | $27,190 | $21,890 | $34,860 | 81,980 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $26,810, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $23,127 a year, or $1,927 a month and $890 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $26,810 buys what about $30,299 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 10.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 7th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($29,290).
- Durham$29,290
- Charlotte$28,720
- Raleigh$28,070
- Asheville$28,010
- Winston-Salem$27,190
- Greensboro$27,020
- Hickory$26,810
- Burlington$26,770
- Wilmington$26,470
- Pinehurst$26,140
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Hickory: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Hickory?
$12.89 an hour on average, and $13.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Hickory?
About $23,127 a year ($1,927 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,810.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 4.16, this job is 4.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.