Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Virginia
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Virginia earn a median of $37,890 a year ($18.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,940 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $37,450. Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 2.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,000 | $14.43 |
| 25th percentile | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Median | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| 75th percentile | $44,460 | $21.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Average (mean) | $39,500 | $18.99 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,157.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,578.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,457.31 |
| Weekly | $728.65 |
| Hourly | $18.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,880 | 5,670 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,510 | 450 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,440 | 2,510 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,900 | 200 |
| Richmond, VA | $37,140 | 1,550 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,030 | 300 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $36,190 | 170 |
| Roanoke, VA | $35,670 | 450 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,350 | 230 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,210 | 510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,120 | 550 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Virginia?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia is $37,890 a year, or $18.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Virginia?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia earn at least $47,940 a year. The top 25% earn $44,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,000 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $34,920 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Virginia?
About 11,170 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.