How much does a food preparation worker make in Virginia Beach?
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area. That is $15.66 an hour or $2,715 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.66
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 192 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 3,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,630 | $13.76 | |
| 25th | $30,860 | $14.84 | |
| Median | $32,580 | $15.66 | |
| 75th | $36,380 | $17.49 | |
| 90th | $38,430 | $18.48 |
Other cities in Virginia
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Washington, DC | $37,630 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,650 |
| Staunton, VA | $32,210 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $32,150 |
| Winchester, VA | $31,620 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $31,200 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,800 |
| Roanoke, VA | $30,790 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,020 |
Related jobs in Virginia Beach
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,730 |
| Bartender | $46,700 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,800 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $39,020 |
| Cook | $38,440 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $36,780 |
| Cook | $36,280 |
| Food Server | $34,710 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,330 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Virginia Beach?
The median hourly pay in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $15.66 ($32,580 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Virginia Beach than the national average?
No: $32,580 against $35,320 nationally, 8% less.
How does Virginia Beach compare with the rest of Virginia?
The median in Virginia is $34,900, so Virginia Beach pays 7% less.
Where does Virginia Beach rank for food preparation worker pay?
192 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,630 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,430 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.