Food Preparation Workers Salary in West Virginia
In West Virginia, food preparation workers earn a median $28,360 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−20%); the state ranks 46th of 51 states by median. That is 37% less than the median across all occupations in West Virginia ($45,300). Among neighbouring states, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania pay more (up to $35,500 in Maryland) and Kentucky pays less (down to $26,850 in Kentucky). West Virginia employs 2,960 food preparation workers, 4.22 per 1,000 jobs, the 45th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.73 means it is less common in West Virginia than nationally.
West Virginia vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $10.37 | $11.19 | $13.63 | $15.09 | $17.26 | $13.68 | 2,960 | 4.22 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $21,570 | $23,280 | $28,360 | $31,380 | $35,890 | $28,450 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 46th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 45th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.73
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.22
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of West Virginia's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in West Virginia
10 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching West Virginia publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $18.09 | $37,630 | $31,340 | $45,010 | 14,810 | 4.72 | 0.82 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $15.20 | $31,620 | $28,240 | $41,770 | 230 | 3.44 | 0.60 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $15.05 | $31,290 | $24,960 | $38,450 | 560 | 5.22 | 0.91 |
| Morgantown, WV | $14.72 | $30,620 | $22,490 | $34,830 | 370 | 5.49 | 0.96 |
| Beckley, WV | $14.08 | $29,290 | $21,230 | $33,820 | 250 | 5.70 | 0.99 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $13.96 | $29,040 | $22,850 | $35,810 | 310 | 5.30 | 0.92 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $13.45 | $27,980 | $22,890 | $37,240 | 160 | 4.28 | 0.75 |
| Charleston, WV | $13.45 | $27,970 | $21,970 | $36,960 | 310 | 3.01 | 0.52 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $13.16 | $27,370 | $21,460 | $34,870 | 160 | 4.45 | 0.77 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $12.00 | $24,960 | $18,730 | $35,910 | 850 | 6.04 | 1.05 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $12.96 | $26,970 | $21,210 | $35,110 | 620 | 4.27 | 0.74 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $12.04 | $25,040 | $20,820 | $33,650 | 330 | 4.30 | 0.75 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $13.63 | $28,360 | 2,960 | 0.73 |
| Kentucky | $12.91 | $26,850 | 15,390 | 1.34 |
| Maryland | $17.07 | $35,500 | 13,280 | 0.84 |
| Ohio | $16.60 | $34,530 | 19,480 | 0.61 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.83 | $30,840 | 17,940 | 0.51 |
| Virginia | $16.78 | $34,900 | 16,340 | 0.69 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the West Virginia wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS West Virginia estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.