Cooks, Restaurant pay in Roanoke

In Roanoke (VA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.79 an hour ($34,920 a year). About 1,560 people work in this job there.

$16.79Median hourly pay
$28,960–$36,580Middle half of workers, yearly
1,560People in this job in Roanoke (VA)

That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 5% lower than the Virginia median ($36,750).

Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Roanoke (VA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$13.44$27,960
25% of workers$13.93$28,960
Half of workers (median)$16.79$34,920
75% of workers$17.59$36,580
90% of workers$20.58$42,810

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Virginia metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Richmond$37,0806,160
Charlottesville$36,9601,370
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$36,2808,380
Harrisonburg$35,920740
Staunton-Stuarts Draft$35,900500
Winchester$35,390660
Lynchburg$35,0801,000
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford$35,050720
Roanoke (this page)$34,9201,560

Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
  • Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)

Other job titles for this job

CookFRY CookGrill CookLine CookSpecialty CookPrep CookBack Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookForeign Food Specialty CookHotel CookLarder Cook

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Source: 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.