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Food Preparation Workers Salary in Virginia

What Food Preparation Workers earn in Virginia, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 17 counties.

Average in VA
$35,317
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
13 of 24
published states
Workers in state
25,480
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
1
17 counties

Pay by labor market in Virginia

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in Virginia
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$37,630$31,000−$2,432Fairfax County, VA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in Virginia counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Warren County, VA$37,630$31,000$10,720
2Culpeper County, VA$37,630$31,000$8,428
3Rappahannock County, VA$37,630$31,000$6,880
4Fairfax County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
5Prince William County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
6Loudoun County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
7Arlington County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
8Stafford County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
9Alexandria city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
10Spotsylvania County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
11Fauquier County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
12Manassas city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
13Fredericksburg city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
14Fairfax city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
15Manassas Park city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
16Clarke County, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432
17Falls Church city, VA$37,630$31,000−$2,432

Food Preparation Workers pay in Virginia

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in Virginia is $35,317, based on 25,480 workers. Among the 24 states with published data, that ranks number 13. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so Virginia averages 0.0% below it.

Published data for Virginia currently covers the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area, with a local median wage of $37,630.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in Virginia

We compare 17 Virginia counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Warren County, VA leaves the largest yearly margin, $10,720. In Falls Church city, VA the basics cost $2,432 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 3 of the 17 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are Washington ($40,765), California ($39,696), New Hampshire ($39,052) and Massachusetts ($38,435).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in Virginia

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in Virginia?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $35,317.

Which Virginia county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Warren County, VA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($10,720). Culpeper County, VA follows at $8,428.