Chefs and Head Cooks, Charlotte

$64,260

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC. Middle half of wages roughly $58,020 to $77,950.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
+2.9%
US median
$62,470
Metro RPP
97.3
Middle half
$58,020 to $77,950
OEWS employment
1,480
SOC
35-1011

Chefs and Head Cooks in Charlotte pay a median $64,260 (May 2025), 2.9% above the US median of $62,470. At local prices (RPP 97.3), that median buys about what $66,043 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$64,260 in Charlotte buys about what $66,043 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 97.3, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 97.6 vs all-items 97.3 (US = 100, 2024).

Chefs and Head Cooks in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
Charlotte $64,260 $58,020 to $77,950 97.3
Madison $64,300 $55,620 to $79,390 97.3
San Francisco $68,970 $48,110 to $90,530 115.6
Tulsa $54,930 $36,080 to $63,680 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Charlotte?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC is $64,260.
How does Charlotte pay compare to the US median for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Local median pay is 2.9% above the national OEWS median of $62,470.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for Charlotte is 97.3 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $64,260 has about the same purchasing power as $66,043 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.