Cooks, Restaurant salary in Virginia
Cooks, Restaurant in Virginia earn a median of $36,750 a year ($17.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 40,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,740 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Virginia ranks 27th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 9.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,340 | $14.11 |
| 25th percentile | $33,270 | $16.00 |
| Median | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 75th percentile | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| Average (mean) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
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 | $3,062.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,531.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,413.46 |
| Weekly | $706.73 |
| Hourly | $17.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
| Richmond, VA | $37,080 | 6,160 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Virginia?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Virginia is $36,750 a year, or $17.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Virginia?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Virginia earn at least $45,740 a year. The top 25% earn $42,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,340 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,270 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Virginia?
About 40,310 cooks, restaurant are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.