Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Charleston, WV

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

Median annual salary $28,820 -21.7% vs national
Median hourly $13.86
10th percentile $21,120
90th percentile $36,860
Employed locally 770
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Charleston, WV
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,120
    25th
    $24,170
    50th (median)
    $28,820
    75th
    $30,460
    90th
    $36,860

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,089 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $42,050
    Winchester, VA-WV $34,980
    Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $31,980
    Morgantown, WV $29,430
    Wheeling, WV-OH $29,420
    Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $29,150

    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
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,490
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $28,600
    Food Preparation Workers $27,540

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Charleston, WV is $13.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.76 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Charleston, WV is 21.7% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Charleston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $21,120 per year in Charleston, WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,170.