Rocky Mount, NC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Rocky Mount, NC

In the Rocky Mount, NC metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $33,000 ($15.87/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,100/year and the 90th was $42,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and North Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $27,888 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 88.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,000$15.87 per hour · $2,750 monthly
10th Percentile$26,100$12.55/hr base
25th Percentile$27,700$13.32/hr base
75th Percentile$35,600$17.12/hr base
90th Percentile$42,400$20.38/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

$33,000
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,000
Net 85%
Fed 5%
NC 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$27,888After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,324Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,073Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,780 / yr
North Carolina state income tax$808 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,525 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NC)
10th Percentile$12.55/hr$2,175$26,100$22,571
25th Percentile$13.32/hr$2,308$27,700$23,824
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$27,888
75th Percentile$17.12/hr$2,967$35,600$29,873
90th Percentile$20.38/hr$3,533$42,400$35,065

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Rocky Mount, NC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$59,636Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index88.012% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio55.3%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Rocky Mount, NC

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC is $33,000, which equates to approximately $2,750 per month or $15.87 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC is $15.87 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.55/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.38/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Rocky Mount, NC span from $26,100 at the 10th percentile to $27,700 at the 25th, $35,600 at the 75th, and $42,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Rocky Mount, NC?

On a median gross salary of $33,000, an estimated $27,888 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,073 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in North Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,112 (an effective rate of 15.5%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Rocky Mount, NC?

On the median annual salary of $33,000, gross monthly income is $2,750. After federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,324 per month (or $1,073 every two weeks).

Is $33,000 a good salary in Rocky Mount, NC?

At $33,000, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 55.3% of the Rocky Mount, NC median household income ($59,636). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 88.0, making regional consumer goods and services 12% cheaper than the U.S. average.