Food Preparation Worker Salary in Richmond, VA
Food Preparation Workers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $33,650 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,097 take-home, or $2,341 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,858
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,086
- Medicare (1.45%)$488
- Virginia income tax$1,121
- Take-home pay$28,097
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.04 | $24,785 | $2,065 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,269 | $2,189 |
| Median (50th) | $33,650 | $16.18 | $28,097 | $2,341 |
| 75th percentile | $36,120 | $17.37 | $29,940 | $2,495 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,390 | $18.46 | $31,633 | $2,636 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,650 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,097 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,712 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Richmond, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #42 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 42 | Richmond, VA | $33,650 | $28,097 | $28,712 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $32,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Richmond, VA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $33,650 a year, or about $16.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $36,120.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $33,650 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $28,097 a year ($2,341 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,121 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,712 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #42 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,500