Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Virginia
Food Prep Worker Salary in Virginia (2026)
$16.78 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,976/year ($2,415/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Virginia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,460 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,940 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,900 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $42,480 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 16,340 Food Prep Worker jobs in Virginia (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Virginia
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $34,900 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Virginia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $28,976 — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
| Gross (median) | $34,900 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,008 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,670 |
| Virginia state income tax | −$1,246 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,976 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,415 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Virginia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Virginia?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Virginia is $34,900 per year ($16.78 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,940 and $37,310.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Virginia?
- On the median salary of $34,900, a single filer in Virginia takes home about $28,976 per year ($2,415 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Virginia?
- BLS counts 16,340 Food Prep Worker jobs in Virginia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
Other salaries in Virginia
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Virginia state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Virginia.