Chefs and Head Cooks salary in West Virginia
Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia earn a median of $61,100 a year ($29.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,690 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $62,470. West Virginia ranks 30th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.49 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38). The average (mean) salary is $64,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,520 | $19.48 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Median | $61,100 | $29.38 |
| 75th percentile | $82,480 | $39.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,690 | $42.64 |
| Average (mean) | $64,600 | $31.06 |
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 | $5,091.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,545.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,350 |
| Weekly | $1,175 |
| Hourly | $29.38 |
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 West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | $81,330 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,510 | 40 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $54,400 | 30 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,120 | $11.12 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,070 | $12.54 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Bartender | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Dishwasher | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,420 | $11.74 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $21,640 | $10.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in West Virginia is $61,100 a year, or $29.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in West Virginia earn at least $88,690 a year. The top 25% earn $82,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,520 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $47,990 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in West Virginia?
About 350 chefs and head cooks are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.