SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Parkersburg
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Parkersburg, WV is $29,000 a year, trailing the national median of $37,450 by 22.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Parkersburg, WV is $29,000 a year, trailing the national median of $37,450 by 22.6%. Half of workers earn between $27,140 and $33,200. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $23,870 and the ninetieth at $37,010.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Morgantown leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 145th of 164 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,870 | −36.3% |
| 25th | $27,140 | −27.5% |
| Median (50th) | $29,000 | −22.6% |
| 75th | $33,200 | −11.3% |
| 90th | $37,010 | −1.2% |
| Mean | $30,040 | −19.8% |
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 | Huntington | $29,630 | 920 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Parkersburg run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $29,000 goes as far as $32,402 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,402US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,000 a year, 22.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,870 to $37,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 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 Parkersburg, WV?
The median annual wage is $29,000, or $13.94 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 Parkersburg, WV is 22.6% 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 Parkersburg, WV earns more than $37,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,870 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 180 jobs in this occupation in Parkersburg, 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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