Food Preparation Worker salary in Virginia
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Virginia earns a median of $34,900 a year ($16.78/hour equivalent), 1.2% below the national median of $35,320. Virginia ranks #24 of 51 states. About 16,340 people do this job in Virginia.
Take-home pay in Virginia
At the Virginia median, a single filer keeps about $29,030 a year after federal, FICA and Virginia taxes — $1,117 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Virginia paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,342.31
- Federal income tax
- −$77.23
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$83.22
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.46
- Virginia income tax
- −$45.87
- Take-home pay
- $1,116.52
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,900
- Federal
- $2,008
- FICA
- $2,670
- State + local
- $1,193
- Net
- $29,030
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.8%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Virginia compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #24 | Virginia | $34,900 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Virginia?
The median salary is $34,900 a year and the average is $34,930 (BLS May 2025).
Is Virginia a good state for food preparation workers?
Virginia ranks #24 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $34,900 after taxes in Virginia?
About $29,030 a year ($1,117 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.