Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Wheeling, WV
Cooks, Restaurant in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median $29,710 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,296 take-home, or $2,108 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Wheeling, WV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,385
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$431
- West Virginia income tax$756
- Take-home pay$25,296
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.33% state
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro spans West Virginia, Ohio. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Wheeling, WV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,860 | $10.99 | $19,892 | $1,658 |
| 25th percentile | $27,470 | $13.21 | $23,550 | $1,962 |
| Median (50th) | $29,710 | $14.28 | $25,296 | $2,108 |
| 75th percentile | $34,570 | $16.62 | $29,039 | $2,420 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,934 | $2,578 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, West Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,710 buys in Wheeling, WV
Prices in Wheeling, WV are 11.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 49% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $25,296 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,640 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, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Wheeling, WV as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Wheeling, WV ranks #307 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 |
| 307 | Wheeling, WV | $29,710 | $25,296 | $28,640 |
*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
- Huntington, WV — $29,550
- Charleston, WV — $29,450
- Morgantown, WV — $29,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Wheeling, WV?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $29,710 a year, or about $14.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,470 and $34,570.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Wheeling, WV?
On the median $29,710 salary, a single filer living in West Virginia takes home about $25,296 a year ($2,108 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $756 in West Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Wheeling, WV a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,640 would in a typical U.S. city. Wheeling, WV ranks #307 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Wheeling, WV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wheeling, WV is $816 a month ($991 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,740
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,150
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,110