Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Morgantown, WV
Cooks, Restaurant in the Morgantown, WV metro area earn a median $29,740 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,319 take-home, or $2,110 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Morgantown, WV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,389
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,844
- Medicare (1.45%)$431
- West Virginia income tax$757
- Take-home pay$25,319
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.33% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Morgantown, WV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,310 | $10.73 | $19,455 | $1,621 |
| 25th percentile | $27,390 | $13.17 | $23,487 | $1,957 |
| Median (50th) | $29,740 | $14.30 | $25,319 | $2,110 |
| 75th percentile | $34,480 | $16.58 | $28,970 | $2,414 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,450 | $17.52 | $30,487 | $2,541 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, West Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,740 buys in Morgantown, WV
Prices in Morgantown, WV are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $25,319 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,130 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Morgantown, WV 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
Morgantown, WV ranks #326 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 |
| 326 | Morgantown, WV | $29,740 | $25,319 | $27,130 |
*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 West Virginia
- Wheeling, WV — $29,710
- Huntington, WV — $29,550
- Charleston, WV — $29,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Morgantown, WV?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Morgantown, WV metro area is $29,740 a year, or about $14.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,390 and $34,480.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Morgantown, WV?
On the median $29,740 salary, a single filer living in West Virginia takes home about $25,319 a year ($2,110 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $757 in West Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Morgantown, WV a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,130 would in a typical U.S. city. Morgantown, WV ranks #326 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Morgantown, WV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Morgantown, WV is $877 a month ($1,099 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Morgantown, WV
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $33,490
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,230