Food Preparation Worker salary in Winchester, VA-WV
Food Preparation Workers in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn a median of $31,620 a year ($15.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,770 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 9% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $34,900. There are 3.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $33,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,240 | $13.58 |
| 25th percentile | $28,970 | $13.93 |
| Median | $31,620 | $15.20 |
| 75th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| Average (mean) | $33,710 | $16.21 |
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 | $2,635 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,317.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,216.15 |
| Weekly | $608.08 |
| Hourly | $15.20 |
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 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 | 240 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,290 | 560 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,200 | 320 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 | 490 |
| Roanoke, VA | $30,790 | 640 |
| Morgantown, WV | $30,620 | 370 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,290 | 250 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,040 | 310 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,020 | 930 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $27,980 | 160 |
| Charleston, WV | $27,970 | 310 |
| 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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Winchester, VA-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,390 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Dishwasher | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| Bartender | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,110 | $26.01 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Winchester, VA-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 Winchester, VA-WV?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is $31,620 a year, or $15.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Winchester, VA-WV?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn at least $41,770 a year. The top 25% earn $36,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,240 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $28,970 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Winchester, VA-WV?
About 230 food preparation workers are employed in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.