Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Virginia
In Virginia, the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $18.22 an hour ($37,890 a year). About 11,170 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($37,450). Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.43 | $30,000 |
| 25% of workers | $16.79 | $34,920 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.22 | $37,890 |
| 75% of workers | $21.37 | $44,460 |
| 90% of workers | $23.05 | $47,940 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $38,510 | 450 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $38,440 | 2,510 |
| Harrisonburg | $37,900 | 200 |
| Richmond | $37,140 | 1,550 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $37,030 | 300 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $36,190 | 170 |
| Roanoke | $35,670 | 450 |
| Winchester | $35,350 | 230 |
| Lynchburg | $35,120 | 550 |
Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,900 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 |
| Bakers | $34,430 |
| Food Service Managers | $71,230 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 |
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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.