Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Durham, NC
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Median annual salary
$64,590
+5.9% vs national
Median hourly
$31.05
10th percentile
$44,630
90th percentile
$101,520
Employed locally
220
National median
$60,990
Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power
Type a city below to see how Durham, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Durham, NC
vs
Salary percentile breakdown
Durham economic context
Unemployment rate
3.20%
2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
Median household income
$81,017
2023 • Census ACS
Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income
80%
Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 20% below the area median household income
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Durham?
The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Durham, NC is $31.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.03 or more per hour.
Is Durham above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Durham, NC is 5.9% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.
What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Durham?
Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $44,630 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,690.