Cooks, Restaurant pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
In Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (VA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.44 an hour ($36,280 a year). About 8,380 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is about the same as the Virginia median ($36,750).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (VA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.05 | $29,210 |
| 25% of workers | $14.59 | $30,350 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.44 | $36,280 |
| 75% of workers | $18.22 | $37,890 |
| 90% of workers | $21.29 | $44,280 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $37,080 | 6,160 |
| Charlottesville | $36,960 | 1,370 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (this page) | $36,280 | 8,380 |
| Harrisonburg | $35,920 | 740 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $35,900 | 500 |
| Winchester | $35,390 | 660 |
| Lynchburg | $35,080 | 1,000 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $35,050 | 720 |
| Roanoke | $34,920 | 1,560 |
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)
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (VA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $32,580 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 |
| Bakers | $33,940 |
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.