Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,810 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Richmond earn between $53,690 and $75,280.
- $46K10th
- $54K25th
- $60KMedian
- $75K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,130 | $5,428 | $31.31 |
| Median | $59,730 | $4,978 | $28.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,690 | $4,474 | $25.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,280 | $6,273 | $36.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Richmond earn about the same as the Virginia average ($65,320) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $65,130 | $59,730 | $46,040 | $92,810 | 540 |
| Virginia | $65,320 | $63,270 | $43,010 | $90,470 | 3,600 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Richmond
On the average salary of $65,130, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $51,581 a year, or $4,298 a month and $1,984 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $65,130 buys what about $66,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 8 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Richmond$65,130
- Charlottesville$64,240
- Harrisonburg$64,050
- Blacksburg$62,000
- Virginia Beach$61,000
- Roanoke$59,700
- Lynchburg$57,390
- Winchester$57,250
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Richmond: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Richmond?
$31.31 an hour on average, and $28.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Richmond?
About $51,581 a year ($4,298 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,130.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.