West Virginia Median
$27,440
per year
Hourly Rate
$13.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-24% vs US median
US median $35,880
State Rank
#42 of 49
620 employed here
How much does a Cook, Short Order make in West Virginia?
Cooks, Short Order in West Virginia take home a median of $27,440 annually — roughly $13.19 an hour — which runs 24% below the national median of $35,880.
Within West Virginia, entry-level pay starts around $20,120 while the top 10% make $36,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $24,380 and $31,380 a year.
Cook, Short Order salary range in West Virginia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,120 | $9.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $24,380 | $11.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $27,440 | $13.19 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $31,380 | $15.09 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,210 | $17.41 |
|
How West Virginia compares
West Virginia ranks 42nd out of 49 states and territories for Cook, Short Order pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Short Order salary in other states
Arizona $46,630Rhode Island $46,250Massachusetts $44,290Hawaii $43,110California $42,930Washington $42,760Colorado $42,450Connecticut $42,450District of Columbia $42,450New Jersey $40,720Idaho $40,090Vermont $38,830Oregon $38,550Delaware $38,500Missouri $38,490Utah $38,010Alaska $37,780Nevada $37,780Illinois $37,440New Mexico $37,150Maryland $36,800New York $35,550Maine $35,360Oklahoma $35,130Michigan $34,510Florida $34,240Iowa $34,090Montana $33,240South Dakota $32,380New Hampshire $32,330Minnesota $32,150Kentucky $31,840North Carolina $31,290Virginia $31,200Nebraska $30,530Arkansas $30,510Tennessee $30,210South Carolina $29,640Ohio $29,290Mississippi $28,180Wisconsin $28,130Kansas $27,400Georgia $26,870Louisiana $26,260Texas $25,320Alabama $22,330Indiana $21,940Pennsylvania $19,910
Working as a Cook, Short Order in West Virginia
Nationally, about 139,000 people work as Cooks, Short Order in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare West Virginia pay ($27,440) 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 does a Cook, Short Order make in West Virginia?
The median Cook, Short Order salary in West Virginia is $27,440 per year, or about $13.19 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $20,120 at the entry level to $36,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does West Virginia pay compare to the national average?
West Virginia pays Cooks, Short Order about 24% less than the national median of $35,880. West Virginia ranks 42nd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is West Virginia a good state for Cooks, Short Order?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $27,440 a year. About 620 Cooks, Short Order 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 Cook, Short Order salary report
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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.