Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Huntington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,090 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Huntington earn between $40,970 and $67,160.
- $33K10th
- $41K25th
- $53KMedian
- $67K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,540 | $4,628 | $26.70 |
| Median | $53,240 | $4,437 | $25.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,970 | $3,414 | $19.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,160 | $5,597 | $32.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Huntington vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Huntington earn 14% less than the West Virginia average ($64,600) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $55,540 | $53,240 | $33,010 | $85,090 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $64,600 | $61,100 | $40,520 | $88,690 | 350 |
| 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 Huntington
On the average salary of $55,540, a single filer in Huntington takes home about $45,128 a year, or $3,761 a month and $1,736 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $45,721 | $3,810 |
| Working in WV | $45,128 | $3,761 |
| Working in KY | $44,980 | $3,748 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Huntington a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Huntington area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.4), so the average $55,540 buys what about $62,812 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Huntington ($44,600). A typical home costs $166,506, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other West Virginia cities
Huntington ranks 3rd of 3 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($71,340).
- Morgantown$71,340
- Wheeling$56,230
- Huntington$55,540
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 Huntington: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Huntington?
$26.70 an hour on average, and $25.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Huntington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Huntington?
About $45,128 a year ($3,761 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,540.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Huntington than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH (26580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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