Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,540 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia Beach earn between $35,200 and $45,410.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,740 | $3,395 | $19.59 |
| Median | $38,440 | $3,203 | $18.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,200 | $2,933 | $16.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,410 | $3,784 | $21.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia Beach earn 3% more than the Virginia average ($39,500) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $40,740 | $38,440 | $30,770 | $53,540 | 2,510 |
| Virginia | $39,500 | $37,890 | $30,000 | $47,940 | 11,170 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $40,740, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $33,386 a year, or $2,782 a month and $1,284 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $33,798 | $2,816 |
| Working in VA | $33,386 | $2,782 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $40,740 buys what about $41,596 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 1st of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Virginia Beach$40,740
- Charlottesville$38,530
- Harrisonburg$38,190
- Richmond$37,980
- Winchester$36,860
- Blacksburg$36,810
- Roanoke$36,780
- Staunton$35,820
- Lynchburg$35,480
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Virginia Beach: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$19.59 an hour on average, and $18.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $33,386 a year ($2,782 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,740.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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