Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $36,280 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,059 take-home, or $2,505 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,174
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,249
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- Virginia income tax$1,272
- Take-home pay$30,059
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.04 | $24,785 | $2,065 |
| 25th percentile | $30,350 | $14.59 | $25,635 | $2,136 |
| Median (50th) | $36,280 | $17.44 | $30,059 | $2,505 |
| 75th percentile | $37,890 | $18.22 | $31,260 | $2,605 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,280 | $21.29 | $36,027 | $3,002 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,280 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,691 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Virginia Beach, VA has 1.2× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #89 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 89 | Virginia Beach, VA | $36,280 | $30,059 | $30,691 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $37,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $36,280 a year, or about $17.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,350 and $37,890.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $36,280 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $30,059 a year ($2,505 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,272 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,691 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #89 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- Bartender — $46,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,440
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,670
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,380