Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $57,730 a year ($27.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,510 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 9% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $63,270. There are 0.69 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $61,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| 25th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Median | $57,730 | $27.75 |
| 75th percentile | $71,610 | $34.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,510 | $38.71 |
| Average (mean) | $61,000 | $29.33 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,810.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,405.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,220.38 |
| Weekly | $1,110.19 |
| Hourly | $27.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 | 270 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | 1,480 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $63,270 | 60 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $62,260 | 90 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $61,990 | 180 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,190 | 820 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,400 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,390 | 290 |
| Richmond, VA | $59,730 | 540 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $59,480 | 110 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,160 | 280 |
| Wilmington, NC | $58,120 | 270 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $57,920 | 40 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 | 100 |
| Roanoke, VA | $57,350 | 100 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $56,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,580 | 70 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 | 240 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Bartender | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,780 | $17.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $57,730 a year, or $27.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $80,510 a year. The top 25% earn $71,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,480 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,880 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 530 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.