📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release

Cooks Restaurant Salary in Virginia (2026)

Virginia · 10.0% above national average · Very High Demand

Average
$45,408
per year
Median
$42,108
per year
Hourly
$21.83
per hour
📅 Dataset: OES May 2025
🔄 Published: May 2026
📍 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
📊
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,823
25th Percentile — Junior$39,083
50th Percentile — Median$42,108
75th Percentile — Senior$55,418
90th Percentile — Top Earners$61,003
💡 Top-earning Cooks Restaurants in Virginia make up to $61,003 per year. The job market in Virginia is rated very strong, with key industries including Government, Technology, Defense.
📈
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$39.2k
2021
$40.3k
2022
$41.6k
2023
$42.8k
2024
$44.1k
2025
$45.4k
2026
📈 Cooks Restaurant salaries in Virginia have followed the national trend with 3.0% annual growth. The strong demand in Virginia's job market supports continued salary increases.
🗺️
Cooks Restaurant Salary by City in Virginia
Geographic salary comparison
CityAvg Salaryvs NationalDemand
Virginia Beach $47,678 +5.0% Very High
Richmond $46,316 +2.0% Very High
🔍
Cooks Restaurant Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation

Virginia is home to a very strong job market for Cooks Restaurants. The state's key industries — Government, Technology, Defense — generate significant demand for skilled professionals. At $45,408 per year, Virginia's Cooks Restaurant salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Virginia (index: 1.1) justifies the higher pay scale. Entry-level professionals in Virginia can expect to earn $31,823–$39,083, while experienced Cooks Restaurants can command $55,418–$61,003.

Looking ahead, the Cooks Restaurant profession in Virginia is projected to grow at 3.0% annually. Major employers are actively hiring, and the state's investment in Government continues to drive new opportunities for qualified candidates.

🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
⚖️
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
  • The average Cooks Restaurant salary in Virginia is $45,408 per year in 2026, which is 10.0% above the national average of $41,280.
  • Major metro areas typically pay Cooks Restaurants the highest wages in Virginia due to higher costs of living and competitive job markets.
  • Virginia has a very strong job market with major industries in Government, Technology, Defense. This makes it one of the better states for Cooks Restaurant employment.
  • At $45,408/year, Virginia Cooks Restaurant salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average of $41,280/year.