Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
North Carolina employs 50,150 Cooks, Restaurant professionals, above the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • North Carolina employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19
The location quotient (LQ) of 1.81 indicates that North Carolina has a higher-than-average concentration of Cooks, Restaurant 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.
The average annual salary for a Cooks, Restaurant in North Carolina is $35,140. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
North Carolina employs approximately 50,150 Cooks, Restaurant professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks North Carolina among the top states nationwide.
Yes — North Carolina has above-average concentration of Cooks, Restaurant jobs (LQ: 1.81). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Restaurant in North Carolina is $35140/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
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.
The top state for Cooks, Restaurant employment is California with 152,250 jobs.
Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for North Carolina's largest cities.
Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at North Carolina's leading institutions.
Compare Cooks, Restaurant labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.
Drill deeper into Cooks, Restaurant pay, hiring, and education data for North Carolina.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 352014) in North Carolina.