How much does a cook make in Richmond?
$35,540a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Richmond, VA metro area. That is $17.09 an hour or $2,962 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.09
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 38 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 50
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,080Median: $35,540Highest 10%: $66,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,080 | $13.98 | |
| 25th | $29,080 | $13.98 | |
| Median | $35,540 | $17.09 | |
| 75th | $59,840 | $28.77 | |
| 90th | $66,560 | $32.00 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Washington, DC | $31,880 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $27,150 |
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 | $37,080 |
| 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 $17.09 ($35,540 a year).
Do cooks make more in Richmond than the national average?
No: $35,540 against $37,690 nationally, 6% less.
How does Richmond compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $35,810, so Richmond pays 1% less.
Where does Richmond rank for cook pay?
38 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $66,560 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.