Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Pinehurst, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC

Median annual salary $63,500 +4.1% vs national
Median hourly $30.53
10th percentile $40,430
90th percentile $99,990
Employed locally 70
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,430
    25th
    $50,350
    50th (median)
    $63,500
    75th
    $71,260
    90th
    $99,990

    Pinehurst economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,837 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 77% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 23% below 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
    Asheville, NC $62,040
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $61,890

    Related occupations in Pinehurst, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,210
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,160
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,030
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,010
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,380
    Food Preparation Workers $28,080

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Pinehurst, NC is $30.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.93 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Pinehurst, NC is 4.1% 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 Pinehurst?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,430 per year in Pinehurst, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,350.