SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Richmond
Richmond, VA · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Richmond, VA is $33,650 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Richmond, VA is $33,650 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $29,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $38,390 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,200 to $36,120.
Employment stands at 2,890, or 4.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Charlottesville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 569th of 593 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,210 | −17.3% |
| 25th | $31,200 | −11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $33,650 | −4.7% |
| 75th | $36,120 | +2.3% |
| 90th | $38,390 | +8.7% |
| Mean | $34,120 | −3.4% |
Other metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlottesville | $34,210 | 400 | |
| 2 | Virginia Beach | $32,580 | 3,120 | |
| 3 | Staunton | $32,210 | 180 | |
| 4 | Harrisonburg | $32,150 | 240 | |
| 5 | Winchester | $31,620 | 230 | |
| 6 | Blacksburg | $31,200 | 320 | |
| 7 | Lynchburg | $30,800 | 490 | |
| 8 | Roanoke | $30,790 | 640 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Richmond sit close to the national average, so $33,650 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$33,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,284US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,650 a year, 4.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,210 to $38,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,890 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlottesville, at $34,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Richmond, VA?
The median annual wage is $33,650, or $16.18 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 $35,320, so pay in Richmond, VA is 4.7% lower. 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 Richmond, VA earns more than $38,390 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,210 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 Charlottesville, at $34,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,890 jobs in this occupation in Richmond, VA. 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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