Cooks, Short Order salary in Richmond, VA
Cooks, Short Order in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $29,280 a year ($14.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,500 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 6% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $31,200. There are 0.46 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $31,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,880 | $12.92 |
| 25th percentile | $27,730 | $13.33 |
| Median | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| 75th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Average (mean) | $31,870 | $15.32 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,440 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,220 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,126.15 |
| Weekly | $563.08 |
| Hourly | $14.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,650 | 3,850 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $30,670 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,160 | 70 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,260 | 130 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $27,830 | 810 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Richmond, VA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Richmond, VA metro area is $29,280 a year, or $14.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $37,500 a year. The top 25% earn $36,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,880 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,730 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Richmond, VA?
About 300 cooks, short order are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.