Cooks, Short Order Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $24,990 -29.8% vs national
Median hourly $12.02
10th percentile $22,670
90th percentile $32,550
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,670
    25th
    $22,670
    50th (median)
    $24,990
    75th
    $25,170
    90th
    $32,550

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Hickory, NC is $12.02, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.27 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Hickory, NC is 29.8% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Hickory?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $22,670 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,670.