Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Blacksburg, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

Median annual salary $49,430 -19% vs national
Median hourly $23.76
10th percentile $38,510
90th percentile $79,970
Employed locally 90
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Blacksburg, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,510
    25th
    $47,430
    50th (median)
    $49,430
    75th
    $60,320
    90th
    $79,970

    Blacksburg economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,627 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 76% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 24% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $68,260
    Vallejo, CA $65,780
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $63,930
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $61,650
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $61,190

    Related occupations in Blacksburg, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,690
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,150
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,100
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,090
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,530
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,870

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Blacksburg?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Blacksburg, VA is $23.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.71 or more per hour.

    Is Blacksburg above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Blacksburg, VA is 19% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Blacksburg?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $38,510 per year in Blacksburg, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,430.