Cooks, Fast Food salary in Virginia
Cooks, Fast Food in Virginia earn a median of $29,950 a year ($14.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,730 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $30,890. Virginia ranks 28th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 3.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $31,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,400 | $13.18 |
| 25th percentile | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Median | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 75th percentile | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Average (mean) | $31,980 | $15.38 |
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 | $2,495.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,247.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,151.92 |
| Weekly | $575.96 |
| Hourly | $14.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,970 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $29,570 | 1,180 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
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 35-2011. 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 Virginia?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Virginia is $29,950 a year, or $14.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Virginia?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Virginia earn at least $37,730 a year. The top 25% earn $34,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,400 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,330 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Virginia?
About 12,520 cooks, fast food are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.