Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Charlottesville, VA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median $36,960 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,566 take-home, or $2,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Charlottesville, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,292
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- Virginia income tax$1,311
- Take-home pay$30,566
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Charlottesville, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,930 | $14.39 | $25,322 | $2,110 |
| 25th percentile | $33,690 | $16.20 | $28,127 | $2,344 |
| Median (50th) | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,566 | $2,547 |
| 75th percentile | $39,220 | $18.86 | $32,252 | $2,688 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,460 | $21.86 | $36,907 | $3,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,960 buys in Charlottesville, VA
Prices in Charlottesville, VA are 0.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.07× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,566 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,830 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charlottesville, VA has 1.3× 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
Charlottesville, VA ranks #239 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 239 | Charlottesville, VA | $36,960 | $30,566 | $30,830 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Staunton, VA — $35,900
- Lynchburg, VA — $35,080
- Blacksburg, VA — $35,050
- Harrisonburg, VA — $35,920
- Richmond, VA — $37,080
- Roanoke, VA — $34,920
- Virginia Beach, VA — $36,280
- Winchester, VA — $35,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Charlottesville, VA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $36,960 a year, or about $17.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,690 and $39,220.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Charlottesville, VA?
On the median $36,960 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $30,566 a year ($2,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,311 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Charlottesville, VA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 0.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,830 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlottesville, VA ranks #239 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Charlottesville, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlottesville, VA is $1,602 a month ($1,824 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlottesville, VA
- Bartender — $48,210
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,030
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,510
- Dishwasher — $33,090
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,150