Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Virginia
In Virginia, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $30.42 an hour ($63,270 a year). About 3,600 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($62,470). Virginia ranks 21st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Virginia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $20.68 | $43,010 |
| 25% of workers | $24.12 | $50,170 |
| Half of workers (median) | $30.42 | $63,270 |
| 75% of workers | $37.15 | $77,270 |
| 90% of workers | $43.50 | $90,470 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | $63,270 | 60 |
| Charlottesville | $61,990 | 180 |
| Richmond | $59,730 | 540 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $57,730 | 530 |
| Roanoke | $57,350 | 100 |
| Lynchburg | $56,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $56,580 | 70 |
| Winchester | $54,110 | 40 |
Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 |
| Bakers | $34,430 |
| Food Service Managers | $71,230 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 |
| Food Batchmakers | $41,080 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.