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Roanoke, VA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Roanoke, VA?

In the Roanoke, VA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $30,790 a year ($14.80 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 640 of these jobs there. That is 35% below the $47,140 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $27,340 and $36,050; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Virginia tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,963 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Roanoke, VA at a glance

Median salary

$30,790$14.80 per hour · $2,566 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$27,340$13.15/hr
25th percentile$29,010$13.95/hr
75th percentile$34,730$16.70/hr
90th percentile$36,050$17.33/hr
Jobs in this metro640Location quotient 0.73 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here35% belowAll-jobs median $47,140
Against Virginia12% belowStatewide median $34,900
Against the U.S.13% belowNational median $35,320

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

Take-home payWhat $31,000 a year leaves after tax in VirginiaFederal tax, FICA and Virginia withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$15 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $31,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $31,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Virginia publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Virginia.

Food preparation worker salary in Roanoke, VA after taxes

$30,790
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,790
Net 84%
Fed 5%
VA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,963After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,164Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$999Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,515 / yr
Virginia state income tax$956 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,355 / yr
Customize deductions in full Virginia calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Roanoke, VA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Roanoke, VA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Roanoke, VA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (VA)
10th percentile$13.15/hr$2,278$27,340$23,367
25th percentile$13.95/hr$2,418$29,010$24,636
MedianMedian$14.80/hr$2,566$30,790$25,963
75th percentile$16.70/hr$2,894$34,730$28,903
90th percentile$17.33/hr$3,004$36,050$29,887

Is $30,790 a good salary in Roanoke, VA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$68,761Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.66.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household44.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Virginia metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Roanoke, VA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Roanoke, VA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Roanoke, VA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Roanoke, VA metro area was $30,790 in May 2025, about $2,566 a month or $14.80 an hour. Statewide, the Virginia median for this job is $34,900, so the metro pays 12% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Roanoke, VA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Roanoke, VA was $14.80 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.15 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.33.

How many food preparation workers work in Roanoke, VA?

BLS estimated 640 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.73 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Roanoke, VA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Roanoke, VA run from $27,340 at the 10th percentile to $29,010 at the 25th, $34,730 at the 75th, and $36,050 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Roanoke, VA?

On a median gross salary of $30,790, an estimated $25,963 lands in net take-home pay per year ($999 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Virginia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,827 (an effective rate of 15.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Roanoke, VA?

On the median annual salary of $30,790, gross monthly income is $2,566. After federal, FICA, and Virginia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,164 per month (or $999 every two weeks).

Is $30,790 a good salary in Roanoke, VA?

At $30,790, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.8% of the Roanoke, VA median household income ($68,761). It is 35% below the $47,140 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.6, so prices here run 6.4% below the U.S. average.