Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,480 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Raleigh earn between $33,400 and $40,370.
- $27K10th
- $33K25th
- $37KMedian
- $40K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,090 | $3,091 | $17.83 |
| Median | $37,460 | $3,122 | $18.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,400 | $2,783 | $16.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,370 | $3,364 | $19.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Raleigh earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($36,130) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $37,090 | $37,460 | $26,770 | $46,480 | 1,060 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $37,090, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $31,011 a year, or $2,584 a month and $1,193 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $37,090 buys what about $37,786 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 4th 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Raleigh?
$17.83 an hour on average, and $18.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $31,011 a year ($2,584 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,090.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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