Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in West Virginia make a median of $61,100 a year, or about $29.38 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $68,629 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in West Virginia?
About chefs and head cooks
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Chefs and head cooks pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in West Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $81K | +33% | 70 |
| Wheeling | $54K | -11% | 30 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $53K | -13% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,431/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
West Virginia pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in West Virginia?
The median is $61,100 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,520, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $88,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,074/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 24.7% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $68,629 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.