Greensboro-High Point, NC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Greensboro-High Point, NC

In the Greensboro-High Point, NC metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,900 ($16.78/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,500/year and the 90th was $44,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and North Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,338 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,900$16.78 per hour · $2,908 monthly
10th Percentile$27,500$13.22/hr base
25th Percentile$29,200$14.04/hr base
75th Percentile$37,600$18.08/hr base
90th Percentile$44,700$21.49/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,900
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,900
Net 84%
Fed 6%
NC 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,338After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,445Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,128Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,008 / yr
North Carolina state income tax$884 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,670 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Greensboro-High Point, NC

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NC)
10th Percentile$13.22/hr$2,292$27,500$23,668
25th Percentile$14.04/hr$2,433$29,200$24,986
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.78/hr$2,908$34,900$29,338
75th Percentile$18.08/hr$3,133$37,600$31,400
90th Percentile$21.49/hr$3,725$44,700$36,822

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Greensboro-High Point, NC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,565Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.97.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio53.2%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in North Carolina:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Greensboro-High Point, NC

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC is $34,900, which equates to approximately $2,908 per month or $16.78 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC is $16.78 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.22/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.49/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Greensboro-High Point, NC span from $27,500 at the 10th percentile to $29,200 at the 25th, $37,600 at the 75th, and $44,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

On a median gross salary of $34,900, an estimated $29,338 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,128 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in North Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,562 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

On the median annual salary of $34,900, gross monthly income is $2,908. After federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,445 per month (or $1,128 every two weeks).

Is $34,900 a good salary in Greensboro-High Point, NC?

At $34,900, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 53.2% of the Greensboro-High Point, NC median household income ($65,565). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.9, making regional consumer goods and services 7.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.