Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Winchester, VA-WV
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn a median of $54,110 a year ($26.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,260 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 14% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $63,270. There are 0.57 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $57,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Winchester, VA-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Median | $54,110 | $26.01 |
| 75th percentile | $68,900 | $33.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,260 | $38.11 |
| Average (mean) | $57,250 | $27.52 |
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 | $4,509.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,254.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,081.15 |
| Weekly | $1,040.58 |
| Hourly | $26.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,110 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | $81,330 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $63,270 | 60 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $61,990 | 180 |
| Richmond, VA | $59,730 | 540 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,510 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 530 |
| Roanoke, VA | $57,350 | 100 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $56,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,580 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $54,400 | 30 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
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 Winchester, VA-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,390 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Dishwasher | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| Bartender | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,620 | $15.20 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,670 | $14.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Winchester, VA-WV
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 Winchester, VA-WV?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is $54,110 a year, or $26.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Winchester, VA-WV?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn at least $79,260 a year. The top 25% earn $68,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Winchester, VA-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,080 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $47,750 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Winchester, VA-WV?
About 40 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.