State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: Hawaii vs North Carolina
Chefs and Head Cooks in Hawaii earn a median of $77,360. In North Carolina, $61,130. After cost-of-living, the gap is 8.5% — not 26.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+26.5%
Hawaii vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+8.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Hawaii
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $77,360
- p25
- $54,530
- p75
- $98,640
- p10
- $48,970
- p90
- $118,000
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.0
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.