Food Preparation Worker Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Food Preparation Workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $32,580 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,299 take-home, or $2,275 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,730
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,020
- Medicare (1.45%)$472
- Virginia income tax$1,059
- Take-home pay$27,299
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,630 | $13.76 | $24,352 | $2,029 |
| 25th percentile | $30,860 | $14.84 | $26,016 | $2,168 |
| Median (50th) | $32,580 | $15.66 | $27,299 | $2,275 |
| 75th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 | $30,134 | $2,511 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,430 | $18.48 | $31,663 | $2,639 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,580 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,299 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,873 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 Virginia Beach, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $32,580 | $27,299 | $27,873 |
*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
- Richmond, VA — $33,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $32,580 a year, or about $15.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,860 and $36,380.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $32,580 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $27,299 a year ($2,275 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,059 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,873 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #48 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- Bartender — $46,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,440
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,670
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,380