Food Preparation Worker salary in Richmond, VA
Food Preparation Workers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $33,650 a year ($16.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,390 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 4% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $34,900. There are 4.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $34,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.05 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| 75th percentile | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,390 | $18.46 |
| Average (mean) | $34,120 | $16.40 |
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 | $2,804.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,402.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,294.23 |
| Weekly | $647.12 |
| Hourly | $16.18 |
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 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $32,580 | 3,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $32,210 | 180 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 | 240 |
| 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 Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,500 | $14.19 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| Bartender | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Dishwasher | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,480 | $14.18 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,730 | $28.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Richmond, VA metro area is $33,650 a year, or $16.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $38,390 a year. The top 25% earn $36,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,210 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,200 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Richmond, VA?
About 2,890 food preparation workers are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.