Food Preparation Workers pay in Virginia
In Virginia, the median pay for food preparation workers is $16.78 an hour ($34,900 a year). About 16,340 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($35,320). Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Virginia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.68 | $28,460 |
| 25% of workers | $14.88 | $30,940 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.78 | $34,900 |
| 75% of workers | $17.94 | $37,310 |
| 90% of workers | $20.42 | $42,480 |
Food Preparation Workers pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $34,210 | 400 |
| Richmond | $33,650 | 2,890 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $32,580 | 3,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $32,210 | 180 |
| Harrisonburg | $32,150 | 240 |
| Winchester | $31,620 | 230 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $31,200 | 320 |
| Lynchburg | $30,800 | 490 |
| Roanoke | $30,790 | 640 |
Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for food preparation workers
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -3% over ten years, declining · about 135,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 |
| Bakers | $34,430 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 |
Other job titles for this job
Open food preparation workers jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring food preparation workers? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.