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The Indeed Flex Career Hub is provided for general informational purposes only. Content is AI-assisted, compiled from publicly available sources, and may be out of date or contain errors. Nothing on this site constitutes professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. Always verify pay, tax, and benefit figures with the original source or a qualified professional before relying on them.

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  1. Career Hub
  2. Career Hub
  3. Cities
  4. Durham
  5. Entry Level Cook
ByLocal Market Research Team
Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
Updated January 15, 2026
Hospitality
Durham, NC

Entry Level Cook Jobs in Durham

Temp and flexible entry level cook positions in Durham pay $14.00-$17.86/hr — 3% below the national average, with a cost of living 6% below the U.S. baseline.

$14-$18

Per Hour

$637

Weekly (40hrs)

94

Cost Index

EST

Time Zone

Find Entry Level Cook ShiftsCalculate Earnings
Quick Facts

Top Industries in Durham

Healthcare
Education
Technology
Hospitality

Monthly Costs

1-Bed Rent$1400
Groceries$320
Transport$80
More about Durham

About Entry Level Cook Jobs in Durham

Entry Level Cooks in Durham earn $14.00-$17.86/hr, below the national average.

An Entry Level Cook learns the foundations of professional cooking while assisting line cooks and prep cooks during service. You handle basic food prep, follow recipes, run plates to the pass, and pick up technique on the job - the standard starting point for a US kitchen career.

Most entry level cook positions in Durham are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

Entry Level Cook Pay: Durham vs Nearby Cities

CityHourly PayCost of Living1-Bed Rent
Durham, NC$14–$18/hr94$1,400
Charlotte, NC$14–$18/hr95$1,450
Nashville, TN$14–$19/hr99$1,650
Atlanta, GA$14–$19/hr101$1,700
Orlando, FL$14–$18/hr96$1,500
Worker Proprietary Metric

Worker Affordability Score

Calculated for Entry Level Cook in Durham

1.8x
Challenging
88
Hours to pay rent
55%
Rent / gross income
188
Monthly disposable
9% less affordable than US national average

Data based on BLS OEWS wage data and HUD 2024 fair market rents.

What You’ll Actually Earn in Durham

Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
Gross monthly$2,759
Est. taxes (~22%)-$607
Take-home$2,152
After Essential Costs
1-Bed Rent$1,400
Groceries + transport$400
Remaining$352

Based on avg Entry Level Cook rate of $15.93/hr at 40 hrs/wk.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage and operate assigned kitchen station
  • Prepare dishes according to specifications
  • Train and supervise commis chefs
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization
  • Ensure food safety standards

Skills & Requirements

Key Skills
Basic knife skills
Recipe following
Food safety
Time management
Food safety
Leadership
Requirements
  • Culinary training or equivalent experience
  • 2+ years kitchen experience
  • Food handler certification
  • Strong knowledge of cooking techniques

Earnings Calculator for Durham

Calculate Your Entry Level Cook Earningsin Durham
$16/hr
$14/hr$17.86/hr
25 hr
5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
Weekly
$550
Monthly
$2,382
Yearly
$28,600

Includes ~$150/week in estimated tips

Open Full Pay Calculator

Career Path from Entry Level Cook

Commis Chef

0-2 years

Chef de Partie

2-4 years

Sous Chef

4-7 years

Head Chef

7+ years

FAQs: Entry Level Cook Jobs in Durham

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Join thousands of entry level cooks in Durham earning on their own schedule

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Related Roles in Durham
Barback$12-$18/hrBarista$13-$19/hrBartender$15-$25/hrServer$12-$20/hrChef de Partie$17-$26/hrView all roles in Durham →
Entry Level Cook in Nearby Cities
Charlotte, NCNashville, TNAtlanta, GAOrlando, FLJacksonville, FLBrowse all cities →
Helpful Tools
Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerEntry Level Cook Career Guide

Explore More Opportunities

More Jobs in Durham

  • Barback in Durham
  • Barista in Durham
  • Bartender in Durham
  • Server in Durham
  • Chef de Partie in Durham
  • Commis Chef in Durham

Entry Level Cook in Other Cities

  • Entry Level Cook in Philadelphia, PA
  • Entry Level Cook in Charlotte, NC
  • Entry Level Cook in Las Vegas, NV
  • Entry Level Cook in Dallas, TX
  • Entry Level Cook in Columbus, OH
  • Entry Level Cook in Phoenix, AZ

Related Resources

  • Hospitality Industry Guide
  • Complete Entry Level Cook Career Guide
  • Getting Started Guides
  • Financial Tips for Flex Workers

Data Sources & Methodology

The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

  1. [1]
    BLS QCEW — Employment and wage data at state and county level by industry.Visit
  2. [2]
    BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
  3. [3]
    Census ACS — Demographic, economic, and housing data for communities.Visit
  4. [4]
    Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
  5. [5]
    MWPVL — Comprehensive database of distribution center and warehouse locations.Visit
  6. [6]
    DOL/State Labor Depts — Minimum wage rates, tip credits, licensing requirements, and regulations by state.Visit

Data Freshness

CategoryCost of Living
Last Updated2026-01-15
Next Update2027-01-15

We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

About this data

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

Explore Jobs in Durham

Find opportunities and compare costs

Top Jobs in This City
  • Server Jobs in Durham$12-$20/hr
  • Chef de Partie Jobs in Durham$17-$26/hr
  • Housekeeper Jobs in Durham$14-$19/hr
  • Dishwasher Jobs in Durham$12-$17/hr
  • Host / Hostess Jobs in Durham$12-$18/hr
  • Food Runner Jobs in Durham$12-$17/hr
Compare Living Costs
  • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in Durham
Nearby Cities
  • Philadelphia, PA$14-$22/hr avg
  • Charlotte, NC$14-$21/hr avg
  • Las Vegas, NV$14-$24/hr avg
  • Dallas, TX$14-$23/hr avg

Popular Searches

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