Food Preparation Worker salary in Virginia
Food Preparation Workers in Virginia earn a median of $34,900 a year ($16.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,480 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,320. Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 4.0 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $34,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,460 | $13.68 |
| 25th percentile | $30,940 | $14.88 |
| Median | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| Average (mean) | $34,930 | $16.80 |
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 | $2,908.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,454.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,342.31 |
| Weekly | $671.15 |
| Hourly | $16.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in Virginia
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Virginia is $34,900 a year, or $16.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Virginia earn at least $42,480 a year. The top 25% earn $37,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,460 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $30,940 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Virginia?
About 16,340 food preparation workers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.