Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Morgantown, WV
Chefs and Head Cooks in Morgantown, WV make a median of $87,280 a year, or about $41.96 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.32), which stretches that salary to about $93,528 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,099/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $87K get you in Morgantown?
About chefs and head cooks
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Morgantown, WV
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K.Top earners bring in $109K or more - a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $81K | +33% | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $79K | +30% | 700 |
| North Dakota | $77K | +26% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $74K | +21% | 1,940 |
| Massachusetts | $71K | +17% | 5,330 |
| Washington | $70K | +14% | 3,840 |
| New Jersey | $70K | +14% | 6,060 |
| California | $67K | +9% | 26,500 |
| Delaware | $65K | +7% | 490 |
| Wyoming | $65K | +6% | 330 |
| New York | $64K | +5% | 15,420 |
| Vermont | $63K | +4% | 530 |
| Alabama | $63K | +3% | 1,280 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +3% | 3,600 |
| Maryland | $62K | +2% | 3,310 |
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Morgantown numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Morgantown, WV?
The median is $87,280 a year - that works out to about $41.96 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,070, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $109,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Morgantown?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,517/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,099/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 19.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Morgantown?
Morgantown has a Regional Price Parity of 93.32 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $93,528 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.