Winchester, VA-WV · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Winchester, VA-WV

In the Winchester, VA-WV metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $33,300 ($16.01/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,100/year and the 90th was $40,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Virginia tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $27,836 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 96.5 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,300$16.01 per hour · $2,775 monthly
10th Percentile$27,100$13.03/hr base
25th Percentile$29,500$14.18/hr base
75th Percentile$35,600$17.12/hr base
90th Percentile$40,500$19.47/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$33,300
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,300
Net 84%
Fed 5%
VA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$27,836After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,320Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,071Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,816 / yr
Virginia state income tax$1,101 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,547 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Winchester, VA-WV

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (VA)
10th Percentile$13.03/hr$2,258$27,100$23,183
25th Percentile$14.18/hr$2,458$29,500$25,001
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.01/hr$2,775$33,300$27,836
75th Percentile$17.12/hr$2,967$35,600$29,552
90th Percentile$19.47/hr$3,375$40,500$33,207

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Winchester, VA-WV

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,300 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$84,298Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index96.53.5% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio39.5%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Virginia:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Winchester, VA-WV

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV is $33,300, which equates to approximately $2,775 per month or $16.01 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV is $16.01 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.03/hour and one in ten earned more than $19.47/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Winchester, VA-WV span from $27,100 at the 10th percentile to $29,500 at the 25th, $35,600 at the 75th, and $40,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Winchester, VA-WV?

On a median gross salary of $33,300, an estimated $27,836 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,071 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Virginia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,464 (an effective rate of 16.4%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Winchester, VA-WV?

On the median annual salary of $33,300, gross monthly income is $2,775. After federal, FICA, and Virginia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,320 per month (or $1,071 every two weeks).

Is $33,300 a good salary in Winchester, VA-WV?

At $33,300, the median salary for food preparation workers is 39.5% of the Winchester, VA-WV median household income ($84,298). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 96.5, making regional consumer goods and services 3.5% cheaper than the U.S. average.