The average salary for a restaurant cook in Virginia is around $36,750 per year.
Avg Salary
Restaurant cooks earn an average yearly salary of $36,750.
Wages typically start from $29,340 and go up to $45,740.
49% below national average Updated in 2025
Restaurant cook earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$21.99 per hour
$45,740 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$20.67 per hour
$42,990 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$17.67 per hour
$36,750 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$16.00 per hour
$33,270 per year
10th percentile
Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$14.11 per hour
$29,340 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Restaurant cook salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
| New Hampshire | $40,200 |
| Alaska | $40,140 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 |
| Arizona | $38,670 |
| Nevada | $38,610 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 |
| New Jersey | $38,460 |
| Montana | $38,060 |
| Delaware | $37,840 |
| Maryland | $37,820 |
| Illinois | $37,580 |
| Nebraska | $37,030 |
| Florida | $37,020 |
| Michigan | $36,980 |
| Missouri | $36,940 |
| Wyoming | $36,830 |
| Virginia | $36,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,580 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 |
| Rhode Island | $36,510 |
| Utah | $36,490 |
| North Dakota | $36,470 |
| Idaho | $36,440 |
| Tennessee | $36,420 |
| South Dakota | $36,220 |
| Georgia | $35,940 |
| South Carolina | $35,740 |
| Iowa | $35,670 |
| Ohio | $35,540 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 |
| Indiana | $35,170 |
| Kansas | $35,130 |
| New Mexico | $35,020 |
| Texas | $34,760 |
| Kentucky | $34,640 |
| Alabama | $32,180 |
| Oklahoma | $31,720 |
| Arkansas | $30,180 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $29,700 |
| West Virginia | $29,590 |
| Mississippi | $29,560 |
| Louisiana | $29,050 |
| Guam | $21,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,000 |
How do restaurant cook salaries compare to similar careers?
Restaurant cooks earn about the same as related careers in Virginia. On average, they make less than bartenders but more than baristas.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Bartender salary | $47K |
| Food server salary | $45K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $41K |
| Butcher salary | $40K |
| Dietetic technician salary | $39K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $37K |
| Baker salary | $34K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $35K |
| Maitre d' salary | $30K |
| Barista salary | $30K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)