Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Virginia
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Virginia (2026)
$18.22 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,207/year ($2,601/month) for a single filer
Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median right at the national average. Of the 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Virginia, the typical worker earns $37,890 a year — though pay ranges from $30,000 for newcomers to $47,940 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Virginia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,000 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,920 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $37,890 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $44,460 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,940 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Virginia (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Virginia
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $37,890 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Virginia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $31,207 — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
| Gross (median) | $37,890 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,367 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,899 |
| Virginia state income tax | −$1,418 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,207 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,601 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Virginia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Virginia?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Virginia is $37,890 per year ($18.22 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,920 and $44,460.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Virginia?
- On the median salary of $37,890, a single filer in Virginia takes home about $31,207 per year ($2,601 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Virginia?
- BLS counts 11,170 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Virginia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Virginia
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Virginia state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Virginia.