SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Virginia
Virginia · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $35,870 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $35,870 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,840. Half of workers earn between $31,640 and $38,830. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,780 and the ninetieth at $45,760.
The area has 1,390 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.62 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 44 states with published data for this occupation, Virginia ranks 16th by median wage. Virginia Beach leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 700th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,780 | −22.5% |
| 25th | $31,640 | −11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $35,870 | +0.1% |
| 75th | $38,830 | +8.3% |
| 90th | $45,760 | +27.7% |
| Mean | $36,130 | +0.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | $36,780 | 270 | |
| 2 | Harrisonburg | $36,230 | 30 | |
| 3 | Richmond | $33,980 | 210 | |
| 4 | Charlottesville | $32,250 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $35,870 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$35,870as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,480US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,870 a year, 0.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,780 to $45,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,390 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Virginia Beach, at $36,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $35,870, or $17.25 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,840, so pay in Virginia is 0.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Virginia earns more than $45,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,780 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Virginia Beach, at $36,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,390 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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