Cooks, Restaurant salary in Richmond, VA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $37,080 a year ($17.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,690 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $36,750. There are 9.3 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| 25th percentile | $31,190 | $15.00 |
| Median | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 75th percentile | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Average (mean) | $37,100 | $17.84 |
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 | $3,090 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,545 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,426.15 |
| Weekly | $713.08 |
| Hourly | $17.83 |
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 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $36,960 | 1,370 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,280 | 8,380 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $35,920 | 740 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $35,900 | 500 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 660 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,080 | 1,000 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $35,050 | 720 |
| Roanoke, VA | $34,920 | 1,560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area is $37,080 a year, or $17.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $44,690 a year. The top 25% earn $38,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,520 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,190 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Richmond, VA?
About 6,160 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.