How much does a cook make in Richmond?
$37,080a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Richmond, VA metro area. That is $17.83 an hour or $3,090 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.83
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 124 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 6,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,520Median: $37,080Highest 10%: $44,690
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,520 | $14.19 | |
| 25th | $31,190 | $15.00 | |
| Median | $37,080 | $17.83 | |
| 75th | $38,890 | $18.70 | |
| 90th | $44,690 | $21.49 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Washington, DC | $42,920 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $36,960 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $36,280 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $35,920 |
| Staunton, VA | $35,900 |
| Winchester, VA | $35,390 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,080 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $35,050 |
| Roanoke, VA | $34,920 |
| Kingsport, TN | $34,600 |
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 | $37,140 |
| 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 $17.83 ($37,080 a year).
Do cooks make more in Richmond than the national average?
No: $37,080 against $37,390 nationally, 1% less.
How does Richmond compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $36,750, so Richmond pays 1% more.
Where does Richmond rank for cook pay?
124 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,520 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,690 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.