Food Preparation Worker salary in Harrisonburg, VA
Food Preparation Workers in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area earn a median of $32,150 a year ($15.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,340 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 8% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $34,900. There are 3.7 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $33,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Harrisonburg, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| 25th percentile | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Median | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| 75th percentile | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| Average (mean) | $33,630 | $16.17 |
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 | $2,679.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,339.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,236.54 |
| Weekly | $618.27 |
| Hourly | $15.46 |
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 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 | 400 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,650 | 2,890 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $32,580 | 3,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $32,210 | 180 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $31,620 | 230 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,200 | 320 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 | 490 |
| Roanoke, VA | $30,790 | 640 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,020 | 930 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Harrisonburg, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,680 | $13.79 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,240 | $14.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Bartender | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Dishwasher | $31,440 | $15.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,710 | $15.25 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,230 | $17.42 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Harrisonburg, VA
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 Harrisonburg, VA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area is $32,150 a year, or $15.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Harrisonburg, VA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area earn at least $38,340 a year. The top 25% earn $35,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Harrisonburg, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,980 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $29,810 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Harrisonburg, VA?
About 240 food preparation workers are employed in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.