Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Virginia
Chefs and Head Cooks in Virginia earn a median of $63,270 a year ($30.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,470 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $62,470. Virginia ranks 21st of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.88 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $65,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| 25th percentile | $50,170 | $24.12 |
| Median | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| 75th percentile | $77,270 | $37.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,470 | $43.50 |
| Average (mean) | $65,320 | $31.41 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,272.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,636.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,433.46 |
| Weekly | $1,216.73 |
| Hourly | $30.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $63,270 | 60 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $61,990 | 180 |
| Richmond, VA | $59,730 | 540 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 530 |
| Roanoke, VA | $57,350 | 100 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $56,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,580 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,870 | $17.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Virginia?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Virginia is $63,270 a year, or $30.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Virginia?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Virginia earn at least $90,470 a year. The top 25% earn $77,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,010 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,170 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Virginia?
About 3,600 chefs and head cooks are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.