Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Charlottesville, VA

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

Median annual salary $36,730 -0.3% vs national
Median hourly $17.66
10th percentile $29,020
90th percentile $45,900
Employed locally 1,370
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,020
    25th
    $34,410
    50th (median)
    $36,730
    75th
    $39,270
    90th
    $45,900

    Charlottesville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $90,552 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 59% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Vallejo, CA $43,820
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $42,140
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $42,050
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $39,260
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $37,710

    Related occupations in Charlottesville, VA

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

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Charlottesville, VA is $17.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.86 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Charlottesville, VA is 0.3% 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 Charlottesville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,020 per year in Charlottesville, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,410.