Cooks, Restaurant salary in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
Cooks, Restaurant in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area earn a median of $29,550 a year ($14.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,940 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the West Virginia statewide median of $29,590. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,490 | $10.81 |
| 25th percentile | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Median | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| 75th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Average (mean) | $30,570 | $14.70 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,462.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,231.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,136.54 |
| Weekly | $568.27 |
| Hourly | $14.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in West Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
| Cleveland, OH | $37,060 | 8,190 |
| Columbus, OH | $36,590 | 8,600 |
| Akron, OH | $36,030 | 2,820 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $35,700 | 2,960 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,600 | 1,570 |
| Toledo, OH | $35,560 | 2,920 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 660 |
| Sandusky, OH | $35,250 | 910 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Springfield, OH | $34,490 | 320 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,330 | 800 |
| Lima, OH | $34,200 | 380 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $32,150 | 1,600 |
| Mansfield, OH | $31,300 | 480 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 370 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,030 | 320 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 440 |
| Morgantown, WV | $29,740 | 760 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,710 | 580 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,700 | 410 |
| Charleston, WV | $29,450 | 770 |
| Beckley, WV | $28,770 | 420 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,470 | $12.73 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $31,070 | $14.94 |
| Bartender | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,950 | $11.52 |
| Dishwasher | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $53,240 | $25.60 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area is $29,550 a year, or $14.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area earn at least $37,940 a year. The top 25% earn $34,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,490 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $27,360 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
About 1,090 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.