Food Preparation Worker salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Food Preparation Workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $32,580 a year ($15.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,430 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 7% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $34,900. There are 4.1 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $34,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,630 | $13.77 |
| 25th percentile | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Median | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| 75th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,430 | $18.47 |
| Average (mean) | $34,040 | $16.36 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,715 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,357.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,253.08 |
| Weekly | $626.54 |
| Hourly | $15.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,630 | 14,810 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,580 | 1,130 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,560 | 1,170 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 | 400 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,180 | 5,800 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,650 | 2,890 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $32,210 | 180 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 | 240 |
| Asheville, NC | $32,110 | 1,250 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $31,840 | 1,820 |
| Wilmington, NC | $31,830 | 1,380 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $31,620 | 230 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,200 | 320 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 | 490 |
| Roanoke, VA | $30,790 | 640 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,660 | 410 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,470 | 5,290 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,000 | 300 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,850 | 260 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,240 | 410 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,130 | 250 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,020 | 930 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,900 | 280 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,680 | 750 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $27,590 | 930 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Cooks, All Other | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Bartender | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,730 | $27.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $32,580 a year, or $15.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $38,430 a year. The top 25% earn $36,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,630 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $30,860 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 3,120 food preparation workers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.