How much does a food preparation worker make in Roanoke?
$30,790a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Roanoke, VA metro area. That is $14.80 an hour or $2,566 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.80
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 248 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,340Median: $30,790Highest 10%: $36,050
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,340 | $13.14 | |
| 25th | $29,010 | $13.95 | |
| Median | $30,790 | $14.80 | |
| 75th | $34,730 | $16.70 | |
| 90th | $36,050 | $17.33 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Washington, DC | $37,630 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,650 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $32,580 |
| Staunton, VA | $32,210 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 |
| Winchester, VA | $31,620 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $31,200 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,020 |
Related jobs in Roanoke
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,350 |
| Bartender | $46,530 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,440 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,380 |
| Cook | $35,670 |
| Cook | $34,920 |
| Food Server | $32,010 |
| Cook | $29,260 |
| Cook | $29,160 |
| Dishwasher | $28,790 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Roanoke?
The median hourly pay in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $14.80 ($30,790 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Roanoke than the national average?
No: $30,790 against $35,320 nationally, 13% less.
How does Roanoke compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $34,900, so Roanoke pays 12% less.
Where does Roanoke rank for food preparation worker pay?
248 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,050 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.