Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Harrisonburg, VA

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

Median annual salary $37,910 +4% vs national
Median hourly $18.22
10th percentile $32,170
90th percentile $46,120
Employed locally 200
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Harrisonburg, VA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Harrisonburg, VA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,170
    25th
    $32,790
    50th (median)
    $37,910
    75th
    $38,720
    90th
    $46,120

    Harrisonburg economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,145 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 47% 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 Harrisonburg, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,060
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,970
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $43,410
    Bartenders $42,530
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,420

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Harrisonburg, VA is $18.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.90 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Harrisonburg, VA is 4% 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 Harrisonburg?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $32,170 per year in Harrisonburg, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,790.