Chefs and Head Cooks salary
in Wilmington, NC
- Middle 50%
- $44,830–$71,880
- vs U.S. median
- -7%
- Metro rank
- #112 of 160
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Wilmington, NC metro earn a median of $58,120 a year, based on BLS estimates for 270 jobs (May 2025). That is 7% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 5% below the NC statewide median of $61,130. It ranks #112 of 160 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE270 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in other NC metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,190 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,780 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,160 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 |
Turn your result into a raise plan.
Run the free check first for Chefs and Head Cooks. If you want to act on it, the Dossier turns your result into a target number (the 75th percentile for your job and metro), the employers that report paying more (where filing data exists), a raise or counter-offer script filled in with your numbers, and a one-page summary for your manager.
- ✓ Built from BLS and DOL data
- ✓ PDF generated in your browser
- ✓ 7-day money-back guarantee
RELATED JOBS IN WILMINGTON
Questions
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Wilmington?
The BLS median is $58,120 a year (May 2025). Half of the 270 jobs pay between $44,830 and $71,880. The 10th percentile is $38,210 and the 90th is $87,790.
Is Wilmington a high-paying metro for Chefs and Head Cooks?
That is 7% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 5% below the NC statewide median of $61,130. It ranks #112 of 160 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make an hour in Wilmington?
About $27.94 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $58,120 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $21.55–$34.56 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.