Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $54,400 a year ($26.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,280 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 11% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $61,100. There are 0.56 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $56,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| 25th percentile | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Median | $54,400 | $26.16 |
| 75th percentile | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| Average (mean) | $56,230 | $27.03 |
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 | $4,533.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,266.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,092.31 |
| Weekly | $1,046.15 |
| Hourly | $26.16 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | $81,330 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Sandusky, OH | $67,190 | 60 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,830 | 750 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,510 | 40 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,020 | 930 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Akron, OH | $55,060 | 220 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 40 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $53,570 | 120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
| Toledo, OH | $50,790 | 220 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,730 | 110 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $47,580 | 210 |
| Lima, OH | $45,270 | 30 |
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 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,110 | $11.11 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Bartender | $28,530 | $13.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Dishwasher | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,080 | $12.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,700 | $12.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $54,400 a year, or $26.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $73,280 a year. The top 25% earn $70,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,990 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $44,220 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 30 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.