Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Winchester, VA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn a median $35,390 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,395 take-home, or $2,450 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Winchester, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,067
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,194
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Virginia income tax$1,221
- Take-home pay$29,395
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Winchester, VA-WV metro spans Virginia, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Winchester, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,920 | $13.90 | $24,568 | $2,047 |
| 25th percentile | $30,240 | $14.54 | $25,553 | $2,129 |
| Median (50th) | $35,390 | $17.01 | $29,395 | $2,450 |
| 75th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 | $30,850 | $2,571 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,850 | $20.60 | $34,960 | $2,913 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,390 buys in Winchester, VA
Prices in Winchester, VA are 3.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,395 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,477 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 Winchester, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Winchester, VA ranks #256 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 |
| 256 | Winchester, VA | $35,390 | $29,395 | $30,477 |
*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
- Charlottesville, VA — $36,960
- Virginia Beach, VA — $36,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Winchester, VA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is $35,390 a year, or about $17.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,240 and $37,340.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Winchester, VA?
On the median $35,390 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $29,395 a year ($2,450 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,221 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Winchester, VA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,477 would in a typical U.S. city. Winchester, VA ranks #256 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Winchester, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winchester, VA is $1,255 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winchester, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,730
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,360