Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $38,440 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,670 take-home, or $2,639 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,433
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- Virginia income tax$1,396
- Take-home pay$31,670
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, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,770 | $14.79 | $25,949 | $2,162 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 | $29,253 | $2,438 |
| Median (50th) | $38,440 | $18.48 | $31,670 | $2,639 |
| 75th percentile | $45,410 | $21.83 | $36,870 | $3,072 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,540 | $25.74 | $42,935 | $3,578 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,440 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, institution and cafeteria's $31,670 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,336 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Virginia Beach, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #21 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | $38,440 | $31,670 | $32,336 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $38,440 a year, or about $18.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,200 and $45,410.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $38,440 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $31,670 a year ($2,639 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,396 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,336 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #21 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 57% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
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- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- 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