How much does a cook make in Richmond?
$37,140a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Richmond, VA metro area. That is $17.86 an hour or $3,095 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.86
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 172 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,550
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,740Median: $37,140Highest 10%: $45,220
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,740 | $14.78 | |
| 25th | $35,630 | $17.13 | |
| Median | $37,140 | $17.86 | |
| 75th | $40,450 | $19.45 | |
| 90th | $45,220 | $21.74 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Washington, DC | $44,880 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,510 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $38,440 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,900 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $37,030 |
| Staunton, VA | $36,190 |
| Roanoke, VA | $35,670 |
| Winchester, VA | $35,350 |
| Kingsport, TN | $35,210 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,120 |
Related jobs in Richmond
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,730 |
| Bartender | $46,070 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,580 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,470 |
| Cook | $37,080 |
| Cook | $35,540 |
| Food Server | $34,960 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $33,980 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 |
| Dishwasher | $31,370 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Richmond?
The median hourly pay in the Richmond, VA metro area is $17.86 ($37,140 a year).
Do cooks make more in Richmond than the national average?
No: $37,140 against $37,450 nationally, 1% less.
How does Richmond compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $37,890, so Richmond pays 2% less.
Where does Richmond rank for cook pay?
172 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,740 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,220 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.