Cooks, Restaurant salary in Charleston, WV
Cooks, Restaurant in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $29,450 a year ($14.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,940 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the West Virginia statewide median of $29,590. There are 7.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,530 | $10.83 |
| 25th percentile | $23,580 | $11.34 |
| Median | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| 75th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Average (mean) | $29,730 | $14.29 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,454.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,227.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,132.69 |
| Weekly | $566.35 |
| Hourly | $14.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 660 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,330 | 800 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,030 | 320 |
| Morgantown, WV | $29,740 | 760 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,710 | 580 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,700 | 410 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
| Beckley, WV | $28,770 | 420 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Bartender | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,330 | $14.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Charleston, WV?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Charleston, WV metro area is $29,450 a year, or $14.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $36,940 a year. The top 25% earn $31,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,530 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $23,580 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Charleston, WV?
About 770 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.