Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Harrisonburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,630 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Harrisonburg earn between $33,870 and $39,970.
- $33K10th
- $34K25th
- $38KMedian
- $40K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,190 | $3,182 | $18.36 |
| Median | $37,900 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,870 | $2,822 | $16.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,970 | $3,331 | $19.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Harrisonburg vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Harrisonburg earn 3% less than the Virginia average ($39,500) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | $38,190 | $37,900 | $33,230 | $47,630 | 200 |
| Virginia | $39,500 | $37,890 | $30,000 | $47,940 | 11,170 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Harrisonburg
On the average salary of $38,190, a single filer in Harrisonburg takes home about $31,484 a year, or $2,624 a month and $1,211 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Harrisonburg a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Harrisonburg area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.9), so the average $38,190 buys what about $40,246 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Harrisonburg ($46,110). A typical home costs $352,185, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Virginia cities
Harrisonburg ranks 3rd of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Virginia Beach pays the most ($40,740).
- Virginia Beach$40,740
- Charlottesville$38,530
- Harrisonburg$38,190
- Richmond$37,980
- Winchester$36,860
- Blacksburg$36,810
- Roanoke$36,780
- Staunton$35,820
- Lynchburg$35,480
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Harrisonburg: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Harrisonburg?
$18.36 an hour on average, and $18.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Harrisonburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Harrisonburg?
About $31,484 a year ($2,624 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,190.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Harrisonburg than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Harrisonburg, VA (25500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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