Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Charleston, WV

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston, WV

Median annual salary $28,600 -21.5% vs national
Median hourly $13.75
10th percentile $22,980
90th percentile $37,620
Employed locally 700
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Charleston, WV
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,980
    25th
    $26,710
    50th (median)
    $28,600
    75th
    $32,670
    90th
    $37,620

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,089 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $42,430
    Winchester, VA-WV $35,860
    Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $31,610
    Morgantown, WV $29,750
    Wheeling, WV-OH $29,110
    Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $28,990

    Related occupations in Charleston, WV

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $22,950
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $29,550
    Cooks, Restaurant $28,820
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,490
    Food Preparation Workers $27,540

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Charleston, WV is $13.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.43 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Charleston, WV is 21.5% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Charleston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $22,980 per year in Charleston, WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,710.