State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: District of Columbia vs North Carolina
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn a median of $76,420. In North Carolina, $61,130. After cost-of-living, the gap is 7.3% — not 25%.
Nominal pay gap
+25%
District of Columbia vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+7.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $76,420
- p25
- $63,550
- p75
- $81,360
- p10
- $56,570
- p90
- $104,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
North Carolina
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $61,130
- p25
- $48,360
- p75
- $76,330
- p10
- $38,210
- p90
- $92,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.