SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Huntington
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Huntington, WV is $29,630 per year, 20.9% below the national median of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Huntington, WV is $29,630 per year, 20.9% below the national median of $37,450. Half of workers earn between $27,310 and $34,290. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $24,310 and the ninetieth at $38,610.
Employment stands at 920, or 6.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Morgantown records the highest median at $31,770. Of the 380 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 350th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,310 | −35.1% |
| 25th | $27,310 | −27.1% |
| Median (50th) | $29,630 | −20.9% |
| 75th | $34,290 | −8.4% |
| 90th | $38,610 | +3.1% |
| Mean | $31,310 | −16.4% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgantown | $31,770 | 340 | |
| 2 | Weirton | $30,850 | 240 | |
| 3 | Wheeling | $30,600 | 330 | |
| 4 | Charleston | $30,050 | 660 | |
| 5 | Beckley | $29,630 | 240 | |
| 6 | Parkersburg | $29,000 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Huntington run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $29,630 goes as far as $33,106 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,106US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,630 a year, 20.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,310 to $38,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 920 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Morgantown, at $31,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Huntington, WV?
The median annual wage is $29,630, or $14.24 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 $37,450, so pay in Huntington, WV is 20.9% 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 Huntington, WV earns more than $38,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,310 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 $31,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 920 jobs in this occupation in Huntington, WV. 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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