Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Richmond, VA

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

Median annual salary $36,380 -1.2% vs national
Median hourly $17.49
10th percentile $28,600
90th percentile $44,480
Employed locally 6,210
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Richmond, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,600
    25th
    $31,260
    50th (median)
    $36,380
    75th
    $38,120
    90th
    $44,480

    Richmond economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,405 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 57% 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 Richmond, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,460
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $43,750
    Cooks, Fast Food $29,120
    Bartenders $38,600
    Food Preparation Workers $31,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Richmond, VA is $17.49, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.49 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Richmond, VA is 1.2% 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 Richmond?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,600 per year in Richmond, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,260.