SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Parkersburg
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Parkersburg, WV is $29,700 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 20.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Parkersburg, WV is $29,700 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 20.6%. Half of workers earn between $23,210 and $30,710. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,750 and the ninetieth at $36,250.
The area has 410 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 11.3 of every thousand jobs. Weirton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $30,030. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 139th of 164 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,750 | −41.8% |
| 25th | $23,210 | −37.9% |
| Median (50th) | $29,700 | −20.6% |
| 75th | $30,710 | −17.9% |
| 90th | $36,250 | −3.0% |
| Mean | $29,240 | −21.8% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton | $30,030 | 320 | |
| 2 | Morgantown | $29,740 | 760 | |
| 3 | Wheeling | $29,710 | 580 | |
| 4 | Huntington | $29,550 | 1,090 | |
| 5 | Charleston | $29,450 | 770 | |
| 6 | Beckley | $28,770 | 420 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Parkersburg run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $29,700 goes as far as $33,184 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,184US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,700 a year, 20.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,750 to $36,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 410 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Weirton, at $30,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Parkersburg, WV?
The median annual wage is $29,700, or $14.28 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 $37,390, so pay in Parkersburg, WV is 20.6% 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 $36,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,750 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 Weirton, at $30,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 410 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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