Cooks, Short Order salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Cooks, Short Order in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $27,830 a year ($13.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,470 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 11% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $31,200. There are 1.1 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th percentile | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| Median | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| 75th percentile | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Average (mean) | $31,430 | $15.11 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,319.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,159.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,070.38 |
| Weekly | $535.19 |
| Hourly | $13.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,830 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,650 | 3,850 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,040 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,600 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $31,200 | 530 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $30,670 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,160 | 70 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,700 | 260 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,620 | 150 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,400 | 170 |
| Richmond, VA | $29,280 | 300 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,260 | 130 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,230 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, All Other | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| 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 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,730 | $27.75 |
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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $27,830 a year, or $13.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $44,470 a year. The top 25% earn $35,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,810 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $25,810 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 810 cooks, short order are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.