Food Preparation Workers pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,430 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Virginia Beach earn between $30,860 and $36,380.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $33KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,040 | $2,837 | $16.37 |
| Median | $32,580 | $2,715 | $15.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,860 | $2,572 | $14.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,380 | $3,032 | $17.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Virginia Beach earn about the same as the Virginia average ($34,930) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $34,040 | $32,580 | $28,630 | $38,430 | 3,120 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $34,040, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $28,388 a year, or $2,366 a month and $1,092 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $28,682 | $2,390 |
| Working in VA | $28,388 | $2,366 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $34,040 buys what about $34,756 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 3rd of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Charlottesville pays the most ($35,110).
- 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 Virginia Beach: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$16.36 an hour on average, and $15.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $28,388 a year ($2,366 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,040.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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