Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,100 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Charlotte earn between $34,610 and $40,780.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $41K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,310 | $3,109 | $17.94 |
| Median | $37,690 | $3,141 | $18.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,610 | $2,884 | $16.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,780 | $3,398 | $19.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Charlotte earn 3% more than the North Carolina average ($36,130) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $37,310 | $37,690 | $28,590 | $46,100 | 3,090 |
| North Carolina | $36,130 | $36,140 | $28,050 | $45,130 | 11,170 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Charlotte
On the average salary of $37,310, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $31,179 a year, or $2,598 a month and $1,199 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $31,715 | $2,643 |
| Working in NC | $31,179 | $2,598 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $37,310 buys what about $38,326 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 3rd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($38,850).
- Durham$38,850
- Asheville$38,680
- Charlotte$37,310
- Raleigh$37,090
- Fayetteville$36,670
- Pinehurst$36,310
- Greensboro$36,240
- Winston-Salem$35,960
- Wilmington$35,570
- Goldsboro$35,060
All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Charlotte: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Charlotte?
$17.94 an hour on average, and $18.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $31,179 a year ($2,598 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,310.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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