West Virginia Median
$61,100
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.38
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $62,470
State Rank
#30 of 51
350 employed here
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in West Virginia?
Chefs and Head Cooks working in West Virginia earn a median salary of $61,100 per year, or about $29.38 per hour. That is 2% below the national median of $62,470 for this occupation.
Within West Virginia, entry-level pay starts around $40,520 while the top 10% make $88,690 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,990 and $82,480 a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary range in West Virginia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,520 | $19.48 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,990 | $23.07 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,100 | $29.38 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $82,480 | $39.65 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,690 | $42.64 |
|
How West Virginia compares
West Virginia ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories for Chefs and Head Cooks pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other states
Rhode Island $79,930Hawaii $77,360District of Columbia $76,420Washington $76,010North Dakota $74,740New Jersey $74,280Wyoming $73,170South Carolina $71,860New York $70,670Tennessee $69,810Massachusetts $69,540Georgia $66,230Vermont $65,440Colorado $65,400California $64,500Missouri $64,480Connecticut $64,310Pennsylvania $63,860Oregon $63,600New Hampshire $63,400Virginia $63,270Minnesota $62,600Alabama $62,400Nevada $62,380New Mexico $62,250Maryland $61,590Delaware $61,440Wisconsin $61,300North Carolina $61,130Nebraska $60,510Michigan $60,070Arizona $59,890Utah $59,060Illinois $58,830Oklahoma $58,540Kansas $58,390Florida $58,240Montana $57,470Maine $57,010Texas $56,080Mississippi $54,850Ohio $53,990Alaska $52,190Indiana $52,190Idaho $52,000South Dakota $48,470Kentucky $48,070Iowa $47,990Arkansas $46,170Louisiana $45,570
Working as Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia
Nationally, about 200,000 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare West Virginia pay ($61,100) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in West Virginia?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in West Virginia is $61,100 per year, or about $29.38 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $40,520 at the entry level to $88,690 for the top 10% of earners.
How does West Virginia pay compare to the national average?
West Virginia pays Chefs and Head Cooks about 2% less than the national median of $62,470. West Virginia ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is West Virginia a good state for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $61,100 a year. About 350 Chefs and Head Cooks are employed in West Virginia. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in West Virginia?
The highest-paying occupations in West Virginia include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($597,740), Emergency Medicine Physician ($491,230), Radiologist ($471,650), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chefs and Head Cooks salary report
Related salaries
$44,080
median pay · 1,223,000 employed
$47,940
median pay · 1,000 employed
$30,890
median pay · 641,000 employed
$34,810
median pay · 477,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed
$34,340
median pay · 756,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.