Cooks, Fast Food Employment & Job Outlook in North Carolina (2024)

North Carolina employs 94,450 Cooks, Fast Food professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • North Carolina employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
94,450
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
94.45
workers
Location Quotient
7.15
vs national avg
Average Salary
$25K
annual

High Demand in North Carolina

The location quotient (LQ) of 7.15 indicates that North Carolina has a higher-than-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

North Carolina vs National Average

Total Employed
94,450
National: 673,460
14.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
94.45
National: 13.21
+615.0%
Average Salary
$25K
National: $29K
-15.8%

Top States by Cooks, Fast Food Employment

#1
164,680
164,680
employed
#2
94,450
94,450
employed
#3
44,280
44,280
employed
#4
26,540
26,540
employed
#5
23,480
23,480
employed
#6
23,090
23,090
employed
#7
21,070
21,070
employed
#8
20,800
20,800
employed
#9
20,690
20,690
employed
#10
19,240
19,240
employed

What Does a Cooks, Fast Food Earn in North Carolina?

The average annual salary for a Cooks, Fast Food in North Carolina is $25,080. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cooks, Fast Food jobs are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina employs approximately 94,450 Cooks, Fast Food professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks North Carolina among the top states nationwide.

Is Cooks, Fast Food in demand in North Carolina?

Yes — North Carolina has above-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food jobs (LQ: 7.15). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Cooks, Fast Food in North Carolina?

The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Fast Food in North Carolina is $25080/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Cooks, Fast Food professionals?

The top state for Cooks, Fast Food employment is California with 164,680 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 352011) in North Carolina.

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Rankings
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