Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Wheeling
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,570 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Wheeling earn between $27,810 and $36,290.
- $25K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,130 | $2,678 | $15.45 |
| Median | $30,600 | $2,550 | $14.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,810 | $2,318 | $13.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,290 | $3,024 | $17.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Wheeling vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Wheeling earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($31,470) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $32,130 | $30,600 | $24,650 | $38,570 | 330 |
| West Virginia | $31,470 | $29,740 | $23,820 | $38,470 | 4,420 |
| 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 Wheeling
On the average salary of $32,130, a single filer in Wheeling takes home about $27,202 a year, or $2,267 a month and $1,046 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $27,562 | $2,297 |
| Working in WV | $27,202 | $2,267 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wheeling a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wheeling area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $32,130 buys what about $36,378 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wheeling ($44,250). A typical home costs $141,852, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other West Virginia cities
Wheeling ranks 3rd of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($33,310).
- Morgantown$33,310
- Weirton$32,460
- Wheeling$32,130
- Beckley$31,360
- Huntington$31,310
- Charleston$30,720
- Parkersburg$30,040
All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in West Virginia
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 Wheeling: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Wheeling?
$15.45 an hour on average, and $14.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Wheeling?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Wheeling?
About $27,202 a year ($2,267 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,130.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Wheeling than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Wheeling, WV-OH (48540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.02, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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