Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Winston, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Winston-Salem, NC

Median annual salary $58,540 -4% vs national
Median hourly $28.15
10th percentile $44,050
90th percentile $94,470
Employed locally 160
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Winston, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,050
    25th
    $51,870
    50th (median)
    $58,540
    75th
    $76,360
    90th
    $94,470

    Winston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,282 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 91% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 9% 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
    Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $63,500
    Asheville, NC $62,040

    Related occupations in Winston, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,680
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,120
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,580
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,800
    Food Preparation Workers $28,540

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Winston, NC is $28.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.58 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Winston, NC is 4% below 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 Winston?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $44,050 per year in Winston, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,870.