Cooks, Fast Food salary in Richmond, VA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $29,570 a year ($14.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,360 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 1% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $29,950. There are 1.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $32,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| 25th percentile | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Median | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| 75th percentile | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Average (mean) | $32,730 | $15.74 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,464.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,232.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,137.31 |
| Weekly | $568.65 |
| Hourly | $14.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,970 | n/a |
| Lynchburg, VA | $29,290 | 310 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,160 | n/a |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $28,680 | 190 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,380 | 5,030 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 720 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,500 | $14.19 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| Bartender | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Dishwasher | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,480 | $14.18 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,730 | $28.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Richmond, VA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Richmond, VA metro area is $29,570 a year, or $14.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $44,360 a year. The top 25% earn $35,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,440 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,590 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Richmond, VA?
About 1,180 cooks, fast food are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.