Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Fayetteville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fayetteville, NC

Median annual salary $61,310 +0.5% vs national
Median hourly $29.48
10th percentile $44,730
90th percentile $80,500
Employed locally 50
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Fayetteville, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,730
    25th
    $50,470
    50th (median)
    $61,310
    75th
    $71,110
    90th
    $80,500

    Fayetteville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,909 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 104% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 4% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,390
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $71,790
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $64,590
    Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $63,500
    Asheville, NC $62,040

    Related occupations in Fayetteville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food$25,490
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,380
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,000
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,660
    Cooks, Restaurant$29,350
    Food Preparation Workers$26,710

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Fayetteville?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fayetteville, NC is $29.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.26 or more per hour.

    Is Fayetteville above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fayetteville, NC is 0.5% 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 Fayetteville?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $44,730 per year in Fayetteville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,470.