Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Winchester, VA-WV
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn a median of $35,350 a year ($17.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,280 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 7% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $37,890. There are 3.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Winchester, VA-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,750 | $14.78 |
| 25th percentile | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Median | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| Average (mean) | $36,860 | $17.72 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,945.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,472.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,359.62 |
| Weekly | $679.81 |
| Hourly | $17.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,880 | 5,670 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,510 | 450 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,440 | 2,510 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,900 | 200 |
| Richmond, VA | $37,140 | 1,550 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,030 | 300 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $36,190 | 170 |
| Roanoke, VA | $35,670 | 450 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,210 | 510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,120 | 550 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,570 | 370 |
| Morgantown, WV | $31,770 | 340 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,850 | 240 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,600 | 330 |
| Charleston, WV | $30,050 | 660 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,630 | 240 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,630 | 920 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,000 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Winchester, VA-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,390 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,620 | $15.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Dishwasher | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| Bartender | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,110 | $26.01 |
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 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Winchester, VA-WV?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is $35,350 a year, or $17.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Winchester, VA-WV?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn at least $43,280 a year. The top 25% earn $41,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Winchester, VA-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,750 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $34,710 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Winchester, VA-WV?
About 230 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.