Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lynchburg, VA
Food Preparation Workers in the Lynchburg, VA metro area earn a median $30,800 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,971 take-home, or $2,164 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Lynchburg, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,516
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,910
- Medicare (1.45%)$447
- Virginia income tax$957
- Take-home pay$25,971
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Lynchburg, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,530 | $13.24 | $23,512 | $1,959 |
| 25th percentile | $28,830 | $13.86 | $24,501 | $2,042 |
| Median (50th) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $25,971 | $2,164 |
| 75th percentile | $33,410 | $16.06 | $27,918 | $2,326 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,900 | $17.26 | $29,776 | $2,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,800 buys in Lynchburg, VA
Prices in Lynchburg, VA are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 36% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,971 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,062 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 about as common in Lynchburg, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Lynchburg, VA ranks #145 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 145 | Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 | $25,971 | $29,062 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $33,650
- Virginia Beach, VA — $32,580
- Roanoke, VA — $30,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Lynchburg, VA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Lynchburg, VA metro area is $30,800 a year, or about $14.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,830 and $33,410.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Lynchburg, VA?
On the median $30,800 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $25,971 a year ($2,164 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $957 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Lynchburg, VA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,062 would in a typical U.S. city. Lynchburg, VA ranks #145 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Lynchburg, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lynchburg, VA is $1,033 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lynchburg, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,640
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,780
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,220