Food Preparation Worker salary in Charleston, WV
Food Preparation Workers in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $27,970 a year ($13.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,960 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 1% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $28,360. There are 3.0 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $28,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,970 | $10.56 |
| 25th percentile | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| Median | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| 75th percentile | $31,540 | $15.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Average (mean) | $28,740 | $13.82 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,330.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,165.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,075.77 |
| Weekly | $537.88 |
| Hourly | $13.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,630 | 14,810 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $31,620 | 230 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,290 | 560 |
| Morgantown, WV | $30,620 | 370 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,290 | 250 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,040 | 310 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $27,980 | 160 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $27,370 | 160 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $24,960 | 850 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Bartender | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,330 | $14.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Charleston, WV?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Charleston, WV metro area is $27,970 a year, or $13.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $36,960 a year. The top 25% earn $31,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,970 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $22,790 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Charleston, WV?
About 310 food preparation workers are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.