Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Charlottesville, VA

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

Median annual salary $37,300 +2.3% vs national
Median hourly $17.93
10th percentile $30,600
90th percentile $44,810
Employed locally 400
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Charlottesville, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,600
    25th
    $31,960
    50th (median)
    $37,300
    75th
    $40,480
    90th
    $44,810

    Charlottesville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $90,552 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 59% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Vallejo, CA $45,720
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,270
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $44,760
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $43,850
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $42,430

    Related occupations in Charlottesville, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,140
    Waiters and Waitresses $37,960
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,730
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,760
    Bartenders $46,390
    Dishwashers $33,340

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Charlottesville, VA is $17.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.64 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Charlottesville, VA is 2.3% above 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 Charlottesville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $30,600 per year in Charlottesville, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,960.