Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Winchester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,260 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Winchester earn between $47,750 and $68,900.
- $36K10th
- $48K25th
- $54KMedian
- $69K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,250 | $4,771 | $27.52 |
| Median | $54,110 | $4,509 | $26.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,750 | $3,979 | $22.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,900 | $5,742 | $33.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Winchester vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Winchester earn 12% less than the Virginia average ($65,320) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $57,250 | $54,110 | $36,080 | $79,260 | 40 |
| 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 Winchester
On the average salary of $57,250, a single filer in Winchester takes home about $45,703 a year, or $3,809 a month and $1,758 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Winchester, VA-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $46,430 | $3,869 |
| Working in VA | $45,703 | $3,809 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Winchester a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winchester area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $57,250 buys what about $59,357 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Winchester ($47,070). A typical home costs $390,773, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Virginia cities
Winchester ranks 8th of 8 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($65,130).
- 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
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Winchester: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Winchester?
$27.52 an hour on average, and $26.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Winchester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Winchester?
About $45,703 a year ($3,809 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,250.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Winchester than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than 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 Winchester, VA-WV (49020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 0.44, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.44).
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