Cooks, Restaurant salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Cooks, Restaurant in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $29,710 a year ($14.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,030 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 9.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,860 | $10.99 |
| 25th percentile | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Median | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| 75th percentile | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Average (mean) | $31,190 | $15.00 |
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 | $2,475.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,237.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,142.69 |
| Weekly | $571.35 |
| Hourly | $14.28 |
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 |
| Cleveland, OH | $37,060 | 8,190 |
| Columbus, OH | $36,590 | 8,600 |
| Akron, OH | $36,030 | 2,820 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $35,700 | 2,960 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,600 | 1,570 |
| Toledo, OH | $35,560 | 2,920 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 660 |
| Sandusky, OH | $35,250 | 910 |
| Springfield, OH | $34,490 | 320 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,330 | 800 |
| Lima, OH | $34,200 | 380 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $32,150 | 1,600 |
| Mansfield, OH | $31,300 | 480 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,030 | 320 |
| Morgantown, WV | $29,740 | 760 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,700 | 410 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
| Charleston, WV | $29,450 | 770 |
| 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 Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,110 | $11.11 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $28,530 | $13.71 |
| Dishwasher | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,080 | $12.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,700 | $12.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,400 | $26.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $29,710 a year, or $14.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $37,030 a year. The top 25% earn $34,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,860 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $27,470 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 580 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.