SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — West Virginia
West Virginia · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia is $61,100 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia is $61,100 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $47,990 and $82,480. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,520 and the ninetieth at $88,690.
The area has 350 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. West Virginia ranks number 30th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Morgantown records the highest median at $81,330. Of the 618 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 224th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,520 | −35.1% |
| 25th | $47,990 | −23.2% |
| Median (50th) | $61,100 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $82,480 | +32.0% |
| 90th | $88,690 | +42.0% |
| Mean | $64,600 | +3.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgantown | $81,330 | 70 | |
| 2 | Wheeling | $54,400 | 30 | |
| 3 | Huntington | $53,240 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $61,100 goes as far as $68,268 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,100as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,268US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,100 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,520 to $88,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 350 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 30th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Morgantown, at $81,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia?
The median annual wage is $61,100, or $29.38 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in West Virginia is 2.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in West Virginia earns more than $88,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,520 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Morgantown, at $81,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 350 jobs in this occupation in West Virginia. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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