Cooks, All Other Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Cooks, All Others in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC make a median of $34,750 a year, or about $16.71 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $35,481 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month — about 72.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About cooks, all others
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level cooks, all others (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $67K | +85% | 240 |
| Washington | $54K | +50% | 110 |
| Nevada | $50K | +37% | 350 |
| Illinois | $47K | +30% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +23% | 590 |
| Alaska | $43K | +19% | 40 |
| Indiana | $42K | +17% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +17% | 90 |
| New York | $42K | +17% | 1,260 |
| Idaho | $42K | +16% | N/A |
| Montana | $41K | +14% | 220 |
| Oregon | $41K | +12% | 490 |
| Ohio | $40K | +11% | N/A |
| Vermont | $40K | +11% | 190 |
| Florida | $40K | +10% | 1,120 |
| California | $39K | +9% | 4,420 |
| Utah | $39K | +9% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $39K | +9% | 150 |
| South Carolina | $39K | +9% | 60 |
| Hawaii | $38K | +5% | 120 |
| North Dakota | $37K | +2% | 90 |
| Arizona | $36K | +0% | 490 |
| Michigan | $36K | -1% | 580 |
| Georgia | $36K | -2% | 520 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -2% | 2,710 |
| Connecticut | $35K | -3% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $35K | -3% | 870 |
| Missouri | $35K | -4% | N/A |
| Virginia | $34K | -6% | 710 |
| Maryland | $33K | -8% | 750 |
| Wisconsin | $33K | -10% | 110 |
| North Carolina | $32K | -12% | 120 |
| Iowa | $31K | -14% | 310 |
| Texas | $31K | -14% | 5,130 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -18% | 620 |
| Arkansas | $28K | -24% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 36 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cooks, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, all others make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $34,750 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,910, and experienced cooks, all others can clear $55,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,373/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 72.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, all other salary go in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 cooks, all other salary is worth about $35,481 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, all others 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.