Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,800 ($17.69/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,100/year and the 90th was $47,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and North Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,789 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 97.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,800$17.69 per hour · $3,067 monthly
10th Percentile$29,100$13.99/hr base
25th Percentile$30,800$14.81/hr base
75th Percentile$39,600$19.04/hr base
90th Percentile$47,200$22.69/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,800
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,800
Net 84%
Fed 6%
NC 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,789After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,566Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,184Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,236 / yr
North Carolina state income tax$960 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,815 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NC)
10th Percentile$13.99/hr$2,425$29,100$24,909
25th Percentile$14.81/hr$2,567$30,800$26,208
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.69/hr$3,067$36,800$30,789
75th Percentile$19.04/hr$3,300$39,600$32,927
90th Percentile$22.69/hr$3,933$47,200$38,731

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$82,330Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index97.92.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.7%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in North Carolina:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $36,800, which equates to approximately $3,067 per month or $17.69 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $17.69 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.99/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.69/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC span from $29,100 at the 10th percentile to $30,800 at the 25th, $39,600 at the 75th, and $47,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

On a median gross salary of $36,800, an estimated $30,789 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,184 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in North Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,011 (an effective rate of 16.3%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

On the median annual salary of $36,800, gross monthly income is $3,067. After federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,566 per month (or $1,184 every two weeks).

Is $36,800 a good salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

At $36,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 44.7% of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median household income ($82,330). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 97.9, making regional consumer goods and services 2.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.