Food Preparation Workers pay range in Morgantown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,830 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Morgantown earn between $27,950 and $31,680.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $32K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,150 | $2,512 | $14.50 |
| Median | $30,620 | $2,552 | $14.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,950 | $2,329 | $13.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,680 | $2,640 | $15.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Morgantown vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Morgantown earn 6% more than the West Virginia average ($28,450) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $30,150 | $30,620 | $22,490 | $34,830 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $28,450 | $28,360 | $21,570 | $35,890 | 2,960 |
| 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 Morgantown
On the average salary of $30,150, a single filer in Morgantown takes home about $25,673 a year, or $2,139 a month and $987 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Morgantown a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Morgantown area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $30,150 buys what about $32,307 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Morgantown ($47,350). A typical home costs $226,953, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other West Virginia cities
Morgantown ranks 1st of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Morgantown$30,150
- Wheeling$30,070
- Weirton$28,920
- Charleston$28,740
- Beckley$27,910
- Parkersburg$27,740
- Huntington$26,880
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 Morgantown: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Morgantown?
$14.49 an hour on average, and $14.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Morgantown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Morgantown?
About $25,673 a year ($2,139 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,150.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Morgantown than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Morgantown, WV (34060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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