Cooks, Short Order salary in Virginia
Cooks, Short Order in Virginia earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,520 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,880. Virginia ranks 34th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.81 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th percentile | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| Average (mean) | $32,600 | $15.68 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Virginia
| 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 |
| Richmond, VA | $29,280 | 300 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Virginia?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Virginia is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Virginia?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Virginia earn at least $42,520 a year. The top 25% earn $36,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,810 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,830 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Virginia?
About 3,350 cooks, short order are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.