How much does a cook make in Virginia Beach?
$38,440a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area. That is $18.48 an hour or $3,203 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.48
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 126 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,510
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,770Median: $38,440Highest 10%: $53,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,770 | $14.79 | |
| 25th | $35,200 | $16.92 | |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 | |
| 75th | $45,410 | $21.83 | |
| 90th | $53,540 | $25.74 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Washington, DC | $44,880 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,510 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,900 |
| Richmond, VA | $37,140 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,730 |
| Bartender | $46,700 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,800 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $39,020 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $36,780 |
| Cook | $36,280 |
| Food Server | $34,710 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,580 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,330 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Virginia Beach?
The median hourly pay in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $18.48 ($38,440 a year).
Do cooks make more in Virginia Beach than the national average?
Yes: $38,440 against $37,450 nationally, 3% more.
How does Virginia Beach compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $37,890, so Virginia Beach pays 1% more.
Where does Virginia Beach rank for cook pay?
126 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $53,540 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.