Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Roanoke, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Roanoke, VA

Median annual salary $52,340 -14.2% vs national
Median hourly $25.17
10th percentile $35,370
90th percentile $73,850
Employed locally 140
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Roanoke, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,370
    25th
    $46,870
    50th (median)
    $52,340
    75th
    $61,310
    90th
    $73,850

    Roanoke economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,447 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 78% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 22% 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 Roanoke, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,990
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,940
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,670
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,130
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,770
    Bartenders $48,260

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Roanoke, VA is $25.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.41 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Roanoke, VA is 14.2% 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 Roanoke?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $35,370 per year in Roanoke, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,870.