Food Preparation Workers pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,360 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Charlottesville earn between $31,190 and $37,450.
- $28K10th
- $31K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,110 | $2,926 | $16.88 |
| Median | $34,210 | $2,851 | $16.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,190 | $2,599 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,450 | $3,121 | $18.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Charlottesville vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Charlottesville earn about the same as the Virginia average ($34,930) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $35,110 | $34,210 | $28,490 | $43,360 | 400 |
| Virginia | $34,930 | $34,900 | $28,460 | $42,480 | 16,340 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Charlottesville
On the average salary of $35,110, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $29,186 a year, or $2,432 a month and $1,123 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Charlottesville a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $35,110 buys what about $35,412 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 13.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 1st of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charlottesville$35,110
- Richmond$34,120
- Virginia Beach$34,040
- Winchester$33,710
- Harrisonburg$33,630
- Staunton$33,630
- Roanoke$31,740
- Blacksburg$31,410
- Lynchburg$31,380
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Charlottesville: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Charlottesville?
$16.88 an hour on average, and $16.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $29,186 a year ($2,432 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,110.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Charlottesville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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