Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Staunton, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA

Median annual salary $51,220 -16% vs national
Median hourly $24.63
10th percentile $37,720
90th percentile $62,860
Employed locally 30
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Staunton, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,720
    25th
    $42,960
    50th (median)
    $51,220
    75th
    $53,330
    90th
    $62,860

    Staunton economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,949 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 72% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 28% 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 Staunton, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,470
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,260
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,530
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,280
    Bartenders $36,260
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $32,760

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Staunton, VA is $24.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.22 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Staunton, VA is 16% 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 Staunton?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $37,720 per year in Staunton, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,960.