SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Virginia Beach, VA is $27,830 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 22.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Virginia Beach, VA is $27,830 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 22.4%. Half of workers earn between $25,810 and $35,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $25,810 and the ninetieth at $44,470.
The area has 810 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.19 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Winchester leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $30,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 591st of 593 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,810 | −28.1% |
| 25th | $25,810 | −28.1% |
| Median (50th) | $27,830 | −22.4% |
| 75th | $35,550 | −0.9% |
| 90th | $44,470 | +23.9% |
| Mean | $31,430 | −12.4% |
Other metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winchester | $30,670 | 60 | |
| 2 | Staunton | $30,160 | 70 | |
| 3 | Richmond | $29,280 | 300 | |
| 4 | Roanoke | $29,260 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia Beach sit close to the national average, so $27,830 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$27,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$27,527US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,830 a year, 22.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,810 to $44,470 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 810 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Winchester, at $30,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median annual wage is $27,830, or $13.38 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 $35,880, so pay in Virginia Beach, VA is 22.4% 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 Virginia Beach, VA earns more than $44,470 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,810 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 Winchester, at $30,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 810 jobs in this occupation in Virginia Beach, VA. 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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